BN can’t be contesting for half of total seats now, says Salleh

2026-03-02 - 07:34

BN’s rebrand must not be a mere cosmetic affair but must reflect a distinct shift in mindset, strategy, and culture within the coalition, said former Sabah chief minister Salleh Said Keruak. PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional can no longer seek to contest half of the total parliamentary seats in future elections as this is a formula from a past era, says former Sabah chief minister Salleh Said Keruak. Commenting on BN’s plan to rebrand ahead of the 16th general election, Salleh said this must be focused on strategies and not the number of seats it contests. “The old idea that BN must contest half of the total seats is no longer relevant. That formula came from a different era of political dominance. “Today, politics is about coalitions, negotiation, and strategic partnerships. Strength is measured by the ability to build stable governments, not by the number of seats contested,” he said in a Facebook post today. The Sabah Umno treasurer said the decision to rebrand BN was timely given how Malaysia’s political landscape has changed. However, he warned against the rebrand being a mere cosmetic affair, saying it must be a reflection of a distinct shift in mindset, strategy, and culture within the coalition. Salleh said voters in this day and age expected clear policies, economic direction, integrity, and practical solutions, while excessive ideological positioning or confrontational politics was out of trend. “BN’s renewal must focus on credibility, clarity of policies, and the ability to work with others. Fighting alone is not a winning strategy in the current environment. “True rebranding means moving from symbolism to substance – from counting seats to delivering results,” he said. Yesterday, BN secretary-general Zambry Abdul Kadir said the coalition planned to rebrand itself as more progressive and inclusive as part of efforts to streamline preparations for upcoming elections. Earlier today, Malaysiakini quoted sources as saying that BN intends to contest at least 115 parliamentary seats in GE16 to enable the coalition to lead the federal government. The sources who attended a BN retreat recently said coalition chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressed the intent during the meeting. They said the goal was to get rid of the perception that BN was just a “second player” behind Pakatan Harapan in the unity government by winning more seats than PH.