BUKIT MERTAJAM – PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang, better known as Tian Chua, described the dissolution of the Johor assembly as an irresponsible act by the Umno-led state government.
He said the Johor election is not only a waste of money and energy, but could also amount to nothing.
“Currently, the mandate of the Johor government is for Barisan Nasional (BN), so why is there a need to hold state elections when we also expect general elections to be held this year?
“This is all Umno’s internal problems that are bothering the people,” he said when met by reporters after attending the Bangkit Bersama Keadilan and Chinese New Year Celebration programme at Perkampungan Machang Bubuk today.
He said although the Johor assembly differs by only one seat between the state government and the opposition, it is part of the democratic process.
The former Batu MP added that the Johor election could also be avoided if the state government reaches a mutual understanding with the opposition, as was done at the federal level.
In this regard, Tian Chua urged the people of Johor to reject BN, which “manipulates power for the sake of its political interests”.
“There is no threat from the opposition and no one wants to bring down the menteri besar or the state government.
But everyone knows, this is Umno’s tactic to urge the prime minister to hold a general election as soon as possible.”
Earlier, Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar gave his royal assent to dissolve the state assembly.
As announced via a post on the ruler’s official Facebook page, the dissolution came after an audience with Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad at 5pm at Istana Bukit Serene today.
This will pave the way for snap polls in the state, as hoped by Umno following the death of Bersatu’s Kempas assemblyman Datuk Osman Sapian on December 21.
His death had left the Perikatan Nasional-led state administration with a razor-thin majority of only one seat, with 28 held against Pakatan Harapan’s 27. – The Vibes, January 22, 2022
