He said the meeting would be used to coordinate party machinery and strengthen grassroots mobilisation ahead of the elections, Bernama reported.

“This is the first of the party’s meetings in the state as part of our preparations for the coming elections,” he said at the opening of Melaka Umno branch meetings.

Zahid, who is also BN chairman, said the coalition intends to maintain its two-thirds majority in the Melaka elections. BN would also build on the performance of the state government led by chief minister Ab Rauf Yusoh as part of its campaign strategy.

Zahid said the party must engage all segments of society, comprising 63% Malay voters and 37% non-Malay voters. “We must also show strong performance as a political party to gain support from all voters,” he said.

Tonight’s Supreme Council meeting is also expected to discuss applications from several former Umno leaders seeking to rejoin the party or have their suspensions lifted.

They include former vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein who was suspended for six years, and former youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin who was sacked, both for breaching party discipline in 2023.

Zahid previously said the party’s doors were unconditionally open to former members, and that all mistakes and differences would be “forgiven”.