Press Digest - No complacency in facing GE14, says Zahid

A THREE-cornered fight in the next general election does not guarantee an easy win for Umno and Barisan Nasional, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
He said although previous national polls saw an increase in Umno's seats, the party cannot be complacent in facing the upcoming elections.
Ahmad Zahid said the decision by PAS to break the "tahaluf siyasi" (political cooperation) with PKR, which triggers the possibility of a multi-cornered fight, cannot be taken for granted as an advantage for BN.
"It will not be that easy as we have to look at the facts. PAS has its own strength. Pakatan Harapan are also very confident that they have the strength, even though their cooperation has almost come to an end," he said.
"But Insyaallah (God Willing), Umno and other friends in BN are strengthening our foundation as we have reflect what we can strengthen in the 14th General Election," he said in a special interview with Mingguan Malaysia.
Ahmad Zahid, who is Umno vice president cum deputy president, said the next general election would be the best avenue for the party to regain its political momentum.
"We are in a path that is not as hard before, and in my opinion, this is the time for us to make amends for our disappointments in the 12th and 13th General Elections," he said.
He said despite the emergence of several Umno splinter parties throughout the history, Umno still remained a party that was needed by the Malays until today.
He added this was proven by the lack of traction gained by splinter parties such as the Independence of Malaya Party, National Party and Semangat 46.