KUALA LUMPUR – Umno communications director Datuk Lokman Noor Adam has revealed an agreement with the unity government that he claims will support Barisan Nasional’s aspiration to regain the prime minister’s post in the next general election.
Under the agreement, Umno – which won the second-most votes after Perikatan Nasional (PN) in numerous seats in the last polls – can contest those seats in the 16th general election (GE16), Lokman said.
With this, BN has a shot at the prime ministership as it could contest 85 seats, and the agreement allows the coalition with the most number of seats in GE16 to put forth a candidate for the post, he added.
“If we work hard and don’t give up, in the next round (GE16), don’t be surprised if the prime minister post becomes BN’s.
“That is our agreement with the unity government – whoever wins the most number of seats will become prime minister,” he said in an undated video of him addressing a crowd of Umno supporters posted on his social media accounts last night.
Lokman, who is also an Umno Supreme Council member, said that the BN linchpin could potentially place candidates in up to 85 parliamentary constituencies for GE16, due to be held in 2027.
“If we contest (in GE16) with the unity government, Umno will contest 85 seats maximum because we have an agreement with (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) and the unity government.
“(Based on the agreement), seats which were won by the opposition (during the previous general election) will be contested by those who won the second most number of votes.
“For example, in Baling, Umno secured the second most number of votes. So, in GE16, Insya-Allah, our own Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim will fight against PN,” he said.
Lokman’s remarks reflect Umno’s ongoing efforts at explaining to the party’s grassroots its decision to align with former political foes, PKR and DAP, in the unity government that was formed after GE15 in November 2022.
In GE15, no single coalition managed to obtain the numbers needed for a clear majority to form a government. Pakatan Harapan, led by Anwar, won 81 seats but came short of the 112 needed for a simple majority – while PN won 73 seats.
Umno currently contributes 26 out of BN’s 30 parliamentary seats.
Lokman, in an apparent plea for Umno supporters to accept the party’s decision to work with the unity government, said it was not too late for the Malay-based party to put in the work to come out on top at the next general election.
“After opposing DAP for 58 years…there are some that support (Umno’s decision to work with the unity government), but there are some that don’t. I’m sure that even here, there are those that don’t support us, (but) don’t want to say so,” he said in jest.
“We must convince the Malays. From today onwards, whenever you attend (party) programmes, bring along your children regardless of their age.
“We must make sure that Umno children will be Umno voters.” – February 26, 2024