Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today expressed his confidence in Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and other UMNO leaders in the state to lead the onslaught against the opposition in the next general election.

He noted that the opposition had been taking drastic action in their strategy to wrest certain state and parliamentary constituencies.

"We see that the opposition have taken drastic action to transfer voters to constituencies where they won or lost narrowly.

"But I trust in the leadership of Mohamed Khaled and his friends to stave off the challenge," Zahid who is also UMNO vice president, told reporters when asked for his comments on Johor's position as a BN stronghold, after opening the Batu Pahat UMNO delegates meeting here today.

In the 13th general election, Johor BN won 21 of 26 parliamentary seats and 38 of 56 state seats.

-- BERNAMA