KUALA LUMPUR – Barisan Nasional (BN) has called on Johoreans to give them a stronger mandate in the state as it no longer wishes to bow down and be threatened by certain quarters anymore.
Speaking at a press conference today, its deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said a government, be it federal or state, which is forced to comply with and cater to the whims and fancies of certain parties will not have the time to focus on the development of the state and country.
“This is why the state election is necessary – to restore the people’s mandate and for them to choose a government whose legitimacy will not be questioned.
“The legitimacy of Johor’s government is important because this state is one of the states which has a huge responsibility in Malaysia’s development.
“The development in Johor is equivalent to the development of the country, same goes to the wellbeing,” he said.
Also present were caretaker Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon and several other BN leaders.
Earlier, Mohamad attended the soft launch of BN’s election machinery, officiated by its chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, which was held behind closed doors at the Johor Umno headquarters.
The Johor state assembly comprises of 56 seats, with Umno and DAP taking 14 seats each, Bersatu (11), PKR (seven), Amanah (six), MIC (two) and PAS (one) during the 2018 general election.
The previous Johor government had a slim majority of one seat by holding 28 seats compared to the opposition’s 27.
On January 22, Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar assented to dissolving the state assembly after an audience with Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad at Istana Bukit Serene on the same day.
The Election Commission is set to meet on February 9 to address the upcoming Johor polls, saying in a statement that according to state laws, an election is to be held 60 days from the dissolution date.
Noting that the upcoming snap polls in the southern state will be the first election in which Undi18 and automatic voter registration will come into effect, Mohamad said the challenges from the lowered voting age are faced by all parties, not only BN.
“BN is not the only one facing younger voters. All parties will face the same issue. It will be up to BN and other parties to use ways to attract and convince the younger voters to give us the mandate to govern Johor for the next five years,” he said.
While the national leadership may remain open to working with PAS in the looming state election, the Umno deputy president said the coalition’s grassroots has slammed the door on the Islamist party.
“The majority of the leaders in Johor and grassroots level wishes for BN to go solo.
“However, the top leadership will look into this matter and study it thoroughly. Any decisions which will be made would be for the benefit of BN.”
In addition, he said the BN leaders have not deliberated on the distribution of seats and its candidates for the time being, as the focus is on its machinery and to look for a formula to convince voters.
“What is important now is our machinery and to approach as many voters as possible.
“We are not starting from scratch as we already have a large voter base and we must secure them, as well as the fence-sitting voters.” – The Vibes, January 26, 2022
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