KUALA LUMPUR – Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates and campaign machinery have been told to prioritise winning public support rather than getting drawn into political disputes during the Johor state election campaign.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the party’s efforts should centre on engaging directly with voters, explaining policies, showcasing its record, and presenting a clear direction for Johor’s future.
“We must go to the ground, speak to the people and convince them that we are not a party that wants to fight with others.”
“We must show our work, our track record and what we have done all this while in Johor.”
“There is no need to fight. Fighting will get us nowhere. We must show that we are a political party contesting this election to present our ideology.”
“We are not selling our ideology to leaders of opposing parties. We are presenting it to the people.”
“We tell them what we have done, where we may have made mistakes, and what we are doing to correct them,” he told BN campaign machinery at the Larkin operations room yesterday, as reported by the New Straits Times.
Also present was BN’s Larkin candidate and Umno Youth vice-chief Mohd Hairi Mad Shah.
Johari said BN still had significant work to do in improving public welfare and advancing Johor’s development if given another mandate.
“The people are also tired of hearing about our political problems. Tell them what you want to do for the constituency,” he said.
Earlier, he also reminded Umno leaders and campaign workers not to dwell on issues related to candidate selection, urging them instead to remain focused on securing electoral victory.
He expressed confidence in BN’s prospects, saying the coalition was capable of retaining the Larkin seat, with Hairi expected to increase his majority.
In the 2022 Johor state election, Hairi defended Larkin with a 6,178-vote majority. He will again contest the seat, facing Bersama’s Norsinah Abu and Pakatan Harapan’s Suhaizan Kayat. – July 5, 2026