SINTOK: Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid is confident that voters will swing towards the party in the 15th general election (GE15).

He said, unlike previous general polls which showed Pakatan Harapan as more popular, there were strong signs that the tide would be on Umno's side for GE15.

"Most importantly (when it comes to elections), it would be the waves (of voters). In 2018 we were sure that it wasn't for Barisan Nasional but more towards Pakatan Harapan. This time, the wave looks positive for us," he said.

Mahdzir, who is rural development minister, told this to reporters after launching the UUM-Parents, Community and Private Sector engagement programme and "Jom Masuk UUM 2022" at Dewan Mu'adzam Shah, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) here. 

Present were UUM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Haim Hilman Abdullah and Bukit Kayu Hitam assemblyman Datuk Halimaton Shaadiah Saad.

Mahdzir said Umno would have to win more than one state legislative assembly seat at each of the 15 parliamentary seats in Kedah in GE15.

"We need to win more than one (seat) because if we contribute only one seat (from each parliamentary constituency) it won't be enough to form a state government.

"What is important in the general election is firstly the candidates. They have to be acceptable to the majority of voters, not just among Umno supporters," he said.

Mahdzir was commenting on an earlier statement made by Kedah Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Datuk Othman Aziz that BN had set its sights on winning at least one state legislative assembly seat in the 15 parliamentary seats in Kedah in GE15.

On the UUM-PIBKS programme, Mahdzir lauded the initiative for creating a platform between the university and the community.

"This programme is a cooperation between UUM and the parents, community and private sector, in collaboration with the state Education Department, to benefit 4,500 students throughout Kedah."

Meanwhile, Haim said the programmes would be organised throughout the year.

"Our lecturers and 20,000 students will visit the respective schools, and they will engage in various academic and co-curricular programmes, identity development programmes, and so on.

"During semester breaks from June to September, we can bring the school students to our campus so that they can feel the atmosphere inside the campus," he said.

He added that the programme was also part of UUM's approach to enrich the local society and not just stakeholders of higher learning institutions.

"We will also 'adopt' the 34 villages around the school. We will study the issues on the ground and work with the local community to resolve them, together with the relevant agencies," he said.