SHAH ALAM: Selangor Barisan National will pay special emphasis on the cost of living, housing, education and healthcare issues to win back the state in the upcoming 14th General Election.
Selangor BN deputy chief Datuk Mat Nadzari Ahmad Dahlan said the coalition lost many of its seats in urban areas in previous elections due to “an oversight” in managing the people’s welfare.
“BN is the party that created and successfully brought change and development to the these urban areas.
“But the issue now is we might have lost sight of certain things, especially managing the people's wellbeing,” he told the New Straits Times today.
He said BN should focus on providing affordable and quality education and health services, among others.
“We have to relook at and properly address these issues. I believe we still have time. It is not too late to win them (the voters) back,” said the Selangor Umno chairman.
He also said the Below 40 (B40) and middle-income groups made up the majority of those living in the state’s urban areas, which are also inhabited by blue- and white-collar workers.
Mat Nadzari also said changes should be made to fulfil the people’s current demands and requirements.
“We cannot go to war using the old method. A change must be made where necessary but it should be made simply to suit us.”
He said this was because changes, if carried out without any research, could backfire and create internal friction within BN.
Mat Nadzari also described Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s advice to adapt to the shifting political situation to win GE14 as timely.
He also lauded the move to allocate seats based on winnable candidates, which was different from the past three general elections, where seats allocations were based on the status quo.
This, he said, would give BN a better chance of wining more seats.
Meanwhile, Selangor Umno information chief Datuk Zein Isma Ismail agreed that issues related to housing, cost of living and transportation should be addressed.
“We have to come up with new strategies to address these issues of concern.”
He also said it was crucial to determine winnable candidates to contest winnable seats to win GE14.
“We cannot contest based on the status quo. And it is important for all of us in the component parties to unite and work together for the success of BN.
“We have to compromise. For instance, if a seat belonged to a certain party in the past, it may not be the same this time. The seat may go to a winnable candidate from other BN component parties.
“Our goal here is to win back Selangor and the prime minister is very serious about this.”