KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 17): Barisan Nasional (BN) will undertake a rebranding exercise to be decided during a planned retreat involving its component parties and allies, its chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Saturday, as the coalition seeks to recalibrate its strategy ahead of the next general election.

Zahid, who is also the Umno president, said he had discussed the matter internally and would bring it to BN’s Supreme Council for a decision on convening a retreat to chart the coalition’s direction.

He said the exercise would involve BN’s component parties as well as “friends of BN”, and stressed that the effort would go beyond cosmetic changes.

“What is important is not just the logo, not just the constitution, but how BN must organise its steps to face the next general election,” he said, in his winding-up speech at the Umno General Assembly 2025.

BN is currently seen to be grappling with strained ties among its component parties, as it remains in the unity government with 29 parliamentary seats — 25 of them held by Umno — amid complaints from MCA and MIC that they have been sidelined despite BN’s role in the administration.

MIC had resolved at its annual assembly last year to review its continued membership in BN, while tensions intensified after several MIC branches passed motions to cooperate with Perikatan Nasional. MIC is expected to make a final decision on whether to leave BN as early as February.

At its recent general assembly, MCA also passed a resolution to quit BN should any of its component parties work with DAP in the next general election.

Despite that, BN component leaders attended the Umno general assembly on Friday, including MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M Saravanan, alongside Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah president Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup.

Their attendance was acknowledged by Umno secretary general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who welcomed the leaders during the opening session.

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