Zahid also said he understands that seat negotiations between PH and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah are almost done.

“I hope we will know the actual number of seats to be contested by each coalition by Nov 15,” Bernama reported him as saying in Bagan Datuk, Perak, today.

Zahid said BN would present winnable candidates, 80% of them being new faces from the Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings.

“All of them are 100% local,” he said, adding that clashes between BN and GRS candidates remain inevitable.

Separately, Zahid dismissed speculation about MIC deputy president M Saravanan and Perikatan Nasional secretary-general Azmin Ali being seen together at a gold shop opening ceremony.

He said their presence together was normal. “Everyone can be friends regardless of political party, race or religion. We as Malaysians are very open, but it is best that we only fight during elections. Apart from that, we must continue to support our friends,” he said.