KLUANG: Umno vice president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani believes Barisan Nasional (BN) has a realistic chance of securing victory in the Mahkota by-election.
The Titiwangsa member of parliament however cautioned that no seat is guaranteed in any election, given the current political dynamics.
He said it was important for BN election machinery to continue their efforts to ensure voter turnout is in favour of BN's candidate Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah on Sept 28.
"Syed Hussien resonates with the people. In every election, there are three key factors I always stress.
"First, we must have a strong party, and if there were past mistakes, we must be willing to correct them.
"Second, we need a candidate who is not only accepted within our party but can also appeal to the broader electorate, including non-partisan voters.
"The candidate must have strong leadership qualities, and finally, we need a united campaign team that avoids internal conflicts and sabotage," said Johari, who is also the Plantation and Commodities minister.
Johari visited the Haji Manan polling district centre last night.
He expressed confidence in BN's campaign, noting its smooth progress and urged the team to continue working together to secure victory.
"I am very confident that our candidate can be elected as the Mahkota assemblyman", he said.
He also said the electoral victories in Johor have traditionally been a barometer for Umno's national success.
He said Umno is the anchor of BN, and any internal sabotage would jeopardise BN's overall success.
"The strength of BN is vital because, when we are strong, the Chinese and Indian communities within the coalition will also remain strong," he added.
The Mahkota by-election is being closely watched, with BN hopeful for a positive outcome despite the challenging political landscape.
The by-election will see a straight fight between Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional.
BN candidate Syed Hussein Syed Abdullah will face off PN's Mohammad Haizan Jaafar.