Ahmad said the formula centres on activities, cohesiveness, candidates, data and emotion – terms in Malay (aktiviti, berpadu, calon, data, emosi) whose initials form ABCDE.

“I have given the formula to the Jerantut division to turn a 0-4 loss to a 4-0 win,” Sinar Harian quoted him as saying. At the 2022 general election, Perikatan Nasional won the Jerantut parliamentary seat and the Pulau Tawar, Damak and Tahan state seats.

“The other divisions can use the same formula to reclaim the other seats lost,” he said.

He said the divisions must organise various activities and ensure their election machinery is cohesive. Suitable candidates must be identified, and they must have with them sufficient data.

Divisional leaders must learn to manage the emotions of the rakyat, and ensure that policies did not trigger the people’s emotions. “This is why the ABCDE formula is vital in areas we want to win,” he said.

Ahmad also called on Umno members to turn up in numbers to support the launch of the Barisan Nasional election machinery for the Nenggiri by-election in Kelantan on Monday.