He added the drop in support was especially noted among the Chinese voters, whom the Bersatu president had relied on for support in the 2018 general election.

“We will witness a phenomenon post GE-15, Bersatu will lose its leader,” Berita Harian quoted him as saying. He said the forecast was based on a survey conducted a week after campaigning.

Muhyiddin has won the Pagoh seat five times when he was with Barisan Nasional and in 2018 under the Pakatan Harapan banner.

Pagoh is among the “hot seats” Umno is confident of retaking. The other is Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur, which was won by Rina Harun of Bersatu in 2018 when Bersatu was then part of PH.

Shabery said Umno’s confidence in recapturing the “hot seats” was also attributed to its ability to placate disgruntled members who were dropped as election candidates.

“The disputes or differences have been ironed out and now the machinery is in order.”

Shabery also said it would be easy for BN to get the support of Gabungan Parti Sarawak as BN did not field any candidate in the state.