REMBAU: It is too early for Barisan Nasional to decide on going solo in the next general election, says Rembau Umno MP Khairy Jamaluddin.

       He said although the party won the Melaka state election, Barisan needed to do an in-depth study on the statistics, especially in terms of the 65% voters who went to the polls, before making any such move.

       “The question is whether this (landslide victory in Melaka) means Barisan will be able to go solo in the next GE.

       “I think the party has proven something – that Barisan still has strength at the grassroots level.

       “But we have to accept the fact that the Melaka polls saw only 65% who went to the polls.

       “In any decision that will be made, we have to think about whether Melaka is an accurate representation of the (next) GE,” he told reporters after the handing over of assets at the Rembau district health office here yesterday.

       Meanwhile, Khairy congratulated the Barisan party machinery led by Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan as well as state Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali, for winning 21 state assembly seats in Saturday’s polls, reported Bernama.

       “Overall, the compliance with standard operating procedure (SOP) – although there were some other cases – was acceptable or moderate,” he said.

       “So far, all parties have managed to adapt to the new campaigning style. This is a model for the Sarawak state election later.”