KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 – The preparedness level of the Barisan Nasional (BN) machinery and the growing support for the party in Melaka are important factors that will enable the BN to show the exit door to the DAP in the state in the 13th general election (GE13). Melaka BN chairman, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said what was important now was to ensure that the BN machinery maintained the momentum in attacking the opposition and defending the BN seats in the ‘last lap’ before polling day on May 5.
“We have worked hard for four years, but it will be worthless if we work for four years but in the last lap we are weak. This is the time to engage ‘full gear’ and press the throttle to the maximum to ensure big victory for the BN in the GE13.
“The support of the residents in the DAP constituencies (in Melaka) for us is improving compared to the last election through the hard work put in by our machinery. So, it’s not impossible to wrest all their seats (in Melaka), and BN in fact is capable of springing a surprise by wresting Penang,” he said.
Earlier, he attended a meeting between BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak with the party machinery at the Putra World Trade Centre, here today. In the last general election, the DAP won one Parliamentary seat (Kota Melaka) and five State Legislative Assembly seats (Bachang, Ayer Keroh, Kesidang, Kota Laksamana and Bandar Hilir) while the rest were won by the BN.
Melaka has six Parliamentary constituencies and 28 state constituencies. Based on the electoral roll gazetted on Nov 27, the state has 434,485 voters. Asked whether he would defend his Bukit Baru state seat or move to the Bukit Katil Parliamentary seat, Mohd Ali said the decision had yet to be made by the top leadership.
BERNAMA
