Code 24451: Malacca BN's strategy to face GE14

KUALA LUMPUR: Code 24451 is not a secret code in a spy movie, but a strategy by Malacca Barisan Nasional (BN) in facing the 14th general election (GE14).
With its foot firm on the ground, BN, which now holds 21 of the 28 state seats in Malacca, and four of the six parliamentary seats in the state, is not setting unrealistic targets.
Malacca BN chairman Datuk Seri Idris Haron said through code 24451, the state BN was targeting 24 state seats and five parliamentary seats in GE14.
He said the state BN came up with code 24451 based on the current political scenario in Malacca and after looking into various aspects, including BN's strength and the opposition weakness in Malacca.
"We are moving towards 24451 … we came up with this figures after taking into account the current political scenario, with BN, which is helmed by Umno, in a strong position, and the opposition scattered all over the place," he told Bernama in an interview recently.
Idris said the action by four DAP leaders in leaving the party and becoming independent elected representatives in February last year was a big slap for DAP and its supporters in KL and the incident was among factors which the state BN took into account in coming up with the code 24451 strategy.
The incident saw Kota Melaka Member of Parliament (MP) Sim Tong Him and three state assemblymen, namely Goh Leong San (Duyong); Lim Jack Wong (Bachang) and Chin Choong Seong (Kesidang) leaving DAP as they no longer had confidence in the party leadership.
Idris said through code 24451 strategy, the Malacca BN was targeting to restore the existing 21 state seats and wrest three of the state seats from the opposition, namely Duyong, Bachang and Bukit Baru which was won by PAS candidate in the last general election.
"Some say we can win Kesidang, it is not impossible, but I'm taking a conservative stand on this, let's be humble," he said.
In Bukit Baru, he said BN lost by only 48 votes to PAS in the last general election, while in Duyong and Bachang, it lost by 205 votes and 2,672 votes, respectively to DAP.
For the parliamentary seats, the Malacca BN is determined to win back Bukit Katil which was won by Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), who defeated Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam in the last general election.
Idris expressed confidence of BN recapturing the Bukit Katil seat, among others, due to failure by the opposition to look into the interests and welfare of the constituents.
"We know the people are disappointed with the incumbent Bukit Katil MP, for almost five years, he is nowhere to be seen and suddenly with the general election approaching, he appears," he said.
Aware of the uphill task in realising code 24451 strategy, Idris said it would require hardwork and microtargeting by the Malacca BN election machinery.
As such, he reminded members of BN component parties to set aside all differences and to focus on ensuring victory for BN candidates.
On the possibility that there would be three-cornered fight or more, he said it would favour BN more.
Citing Bukit Baru, with the incumbent assemblyman from PAS, Idris said Pertubuhan Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) had announced that it would contest for the seat, while Amanah had pledged to contest in all seats where PAS would contest.
"There, the opposition already has three candidates, while BN only has one. We see that there will be at least 15 seats with three-cornered fight or more," he said.
On the possibility of him contesting for parliamentary seat in GE14, Idris said he was leaving the matter to the party leadership to decide. — Bernama