KOTA KINABALU: Barisan Nasional (BN) Women were urged to get themselves mentally and physically ready for the 13th General Election.
BN Women chairperson Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who likened the general election campaign to a marathon, said that since this is the final phase of the preparation for the general election, all the 20,000 women members in Sabah must be ready to face the opposition.
Speaking to more than 2,000 Sabah BN women at the launch of Sabah BN Women Gelombang Biru election machinery at Likas Sports Complex here yesterday, she said
the campaign requires mental strength as well as physical fitness.
“Even though our intelligence reports show that BN will win the election, we must double our effort because the opposition will double their lies during this time,” she said.
Shahrizat said the 13th general election is a serious business, so it is important for the women election machinery to use their wisdom to tell the voters to vote with common sense, not emotion.
She said opposition parties have been using many tactics, twisting facts, inciting hatred against the government.
“That is why our Jalinan Rakyat machinery will approach voters door to door, as women always do in the previous elections to be closer to voters.
“We have had various campaigns since winning the last general election. We have Skuad Sayang and Salam Sayang, using the word ‘Sayang’ (love) to show that BN is loving the people, not spreading lies,” she said.
In Sabah, Shahrizat said BN Women must give their full support to the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
Meanwhile, Sabah Umno Women chief Datuk Armani Mahiruddin yesterday pledged to ensure the more than 20,000 members of Jalinan Rakyat machinery in the state will work hard for BN victory in the 13th general election.
“I can feel this is the last gathering for the Jalinan Rakyat machinery before the general election, the only election that will determine the life or death of Barisan Nasional,” she said.
“I urge all BN women, particularly in Sabah, to rise to the challenge, to be responsible in the next general election, and not to let down our central leadership who have put their faith in us to campaign for BN,” she said.
Armani, who is also Senate Deputy Speaker, said the political pattern has changed in Malaysia, but a study by the Jalinan Rakyat machinery has shown that BN still has the support of the people.
With 678 polling district centres’ in 25 parliamentary and 60 state constituencies, Armani said BN Women will support whoever are selected as candidates for BN, and will work with them to ensure victory.
She said Jalinan Rakyat machinery will be approaching voters with a door-to-door effort to explain the benefit of voting for BN.
“During our door-to-door campaign, we will also tell the people how the opposition has twisted the facts, spreading lies for personal gain.
“We are confident with the help of Wanita wings of all BN component parties, we will win the 13th general election,” she added.