Kuala lumpur: Johor must remain a Barisan Nasional (BN) stronghold and continue to serve as the coalition's political fixed deposit in the state election, said BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The UMNO president highlighted that a BN victory in Johor would signify the beginning of UMNO's and BN's tangible resurgence, while reaffirming the strength of the party, which is now 80 years old.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid emphasized the importance of a BN victory for realizing the coalition's aspirations, requiring a high level of commitment from the entire party machinery. He made these remarks at the launch of BN's election machinery for the Parit Yaani and Parit Raja state constituencies at Dataran Tanjung Simpang. Ahmad Zahid stressed that the momentum to restore BN's influence must be driven comprehensively across the state to demonstrate the enduring strength of grassroots support.

In response to former UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi's claim that BN was fielding 'recycled' candidates, Ahmad Zahid described it as a personal opinion. He urged all parties to put the issue to rest to avoid prolonged disputes that could undermine party unity and harmony. He expressed hope that all members would refrain from raising issues that might invite responses from others, as he did not want embarrassing matters to arise.

Moreover, Ahmad Zahid advised everyone within UMNO to avoid launching counter-attacks if such issues continue to surface. He asserted that any attempt to obstruct the party's campaign would not shake the loyalty of Johor voters, whom he described as being deeply rooted in BN's struggle.