KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is optimistic that the coalition will be the choice of the people in the 15th general election (GE15).

He said this was because PN offered an administration that was caring and run with integrity, in line with the values and aspiration of the majority of the people in this country.

"That is why we formed Perikatan Nasional, which comprises Bersatu, PAS, Gerakan, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP). We want to make Perikatan Nasional as a political coalition at the national level which offers an administration that is caring, efficient, transparent and has integrity," he said when opening the 50th Gerakan national delegates conference here today.

Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president, said PN had proven that it could administer the country well by practising people-oriented policies, and defending the principle of integrity and rule of law.

The Pagoh Member of Parliament also said the system of one party dominating the country had collapsed after GE14, which saw Barisan Nasional (BN) being toppled as the federal government.

He said this led to the current federal government which was established by PN, BN, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).

"In the current federal government, no parties can claim to be dominant to the extent of acting as they like without considering the views of other parties in the government and the people's interests," said Muhyiddin, who is also National Recovery Council (MPN) chairman.

On Gerakan's role in PN, Muhyiddin said the party needed to jointly shoulder the responsibility of strengthening PN to make it a strong national coalition supported by the majority of the people.

"This is a major responsibility and challenge for Gerakan as a component party of PN. I believe this duty can be shouldered well by all Gerakan leaders and members who fight with the spirit of unity to serve the people and the country," he said.

Meanwhile, Gerakan president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau Hoe Chai, in a press conference after the opening, said the party would field young candidates in GE15, following the recent gazetting of amendments to lower the eligible voting age to 18 and to provide for automatic voter registration.

Based on the post-mortem of the recent Melaka state election, the party was convinced that it should intensify use of social media to attract the people's support, he said.

"We are of the view that using social media to campaign under the new normal is a strength we will maintain," he said.

Also present at the ceremony were Gerakan adviser Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, PN information chief Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and Wanita PN chief Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun.

-- BERNAMA