Umno supreme council member Reezal Merican said yesterday that the political changes in Johor had proven that it was time for the party to concentrate on obtaining a simple majority by which to form a government.

His comment came in response to the Barisan Nasional’s loss of a two-third majority in Johor after Jorak assemblyman Shahruddin Salleh of Umno switched to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, becoming its secretary-general.

It was the first time the Barisan Nasional has not held a two-third majority in the Johor assembly.

Despite Shahruddin’s defection, the Barisan Nasional, with 37 seats, still commands a strong majority over the opposition, comprising Pakatan Harapan (15), PAS (3) and PPBM (1).

In Parliament, the ruling party lost its two-third majority in the 2008 and 2013 general elections.

Reezal, who is deputy chairman of Penang Umno, told reporters in Penang on Saturday that it was time to accept the fact that a simple majority was enough. according to NST Online.

He said governments in most countries were based on the support of a simple majority.

The Barisan Nasional has traditionally sought to obtain a two-third majority in the federal and state legislatures, by which the party would be able to amend the federal and state constitutions on its own voting strength.

However, a party only needs a simple majority in the legislature in order to form the federal or state government.

Reezal said he felt that it was good to have a balance between government and opposition. “This gives the people a choice. The most important aspect for the people is the stability and credibility of a party when governing and administering,” he said.

He said this was the reason the people were secure under BN administrations over the past 50 years, while the opposition suffered from infighting among its allies.