After quitting Bersatu, Mazlan hints at Johor comeback

KUALA LUMPUR – Former Johor Bersatu chief Mazlan Bujang has given his strongest indication yet that he will be contesting in the upcoming state election under a different party banner, mere weeks after he quit the political outfit.

Speaking to The Vibes, the former state executive councillor said if he decides to make an appearance in the state polls, he would be defending his Puteri Wangsa constituency, the seat he had comfortably won in the last general election.

So far, only Muda has officially announced it will be contesting in the urban constituency, which it will do in place of Pakatan Harapan (PH), with party secretary-general Amira Aisya announced as its candidate.

“I haven’t decided yet if I will contest, but if I do, it will be in Puteri Wangsa. That’s where my hometown is, so I will not abandon it for a different seat,” Mazlan said.

At the moment, I would give it a 50-50 in terms of whether I will take part in the state election.”

Asked on when he would decide on his candidacy, Mazlan said: “I will make a surprise on nomination day.”

Is Mazlan making a U-turn?

Earlier, however, Mazlan had said in a statement on January 20 that he was considering retiring from politics and will not defend his seat should a state election be called, amidst his souring relationship with Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. 

Two days later, Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar assented to the dissolution of the state assembly, with Mazlan later on January 27 announcing his resignation from Bersatu and aligning himself as a pro-Barisan Nasional (BN) independent. 

While he had previously dismissed suggestions of joining another party, Mazlan is now tipped to join either BN or Warisan, the latter led by Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, which had recently expanded its wings beyond Sabah and will be making its peninsular debut in the Johor polls. 

Speculations of Mazlan contesting under Warisan’s banner emerged after he was supposedly invited by the party as one of the VIPs at a recent dinner function in Johor Baru, alongside Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

However, both leaders did not show up at the event.

In a statement yesterday, state Perikatan Nasional (PN) information chief Mohd Solihan Badri claimed the “opportunistic” Mazlan was one of Johor Warisan’s sponsors. 

“This is nothing more than a reflection of his true selfish self, as long as he gets a lucrative allocation,” he said, adding that Mazlan’s involvement in Warisan proved he is not wanted by the other major parties in the peninsula.

Responding to the rumours of him joining Warisan, Mazlan offered a three-word response: “We will see.”

No to being a ‘yes man’, regardless of next party

The Puteri Wangsa incumbent added that regardless of which party he joins next, he will stick to his policy of not being a “yes man”, something he said did not sit well with his previous party Bersatu.

When I was in the government with PN and PH, I would air my views if something is not right. I want to ensure checks and balances, which should not only come from the opposition but also within the government.”

Mazlan said he had considered pulling out of politics entirely after being approached by family members, friends and voters requesting him to contest in the coming election.

“We assemblymen are not like MPs. We always look to solve the people’s problems. The rich may not care, but lower-income Malaysians are counting on us.

“When you have experience representing a state constituency as an assemblyman, this gives you an advantage in terms of serving the rakyat. It all boils down to effort.” – The Vibes, February 18, 2022