PRIME Minister Muhyiddin Yassin will not get a free ride in Pagoh in the next general election as Umno will field its own candidate in its traditional seat.

“The Pagoh delegates have unanimously decided to field candidates in the parliamentary and state seats (Bukit Pasir and Bukit Kepong) in the constituency as these are its traditional seats,” said division secretary Kamarul Ariffin Mohamad after its AGM yesterday.

“Furthermore, Pagoh Umno has unanimously resolved to reject any political cooperation with Bersatu,” said Kamarul in a statement posted on Facebook last night.

Kamarul said although Pagoh division chief Ismail Mohamed told the delegates that the Umno state leadership has decided to contest all seats except Pagoh, they rejected the state’s decision.

“The delegates, nevertheless, have decided to field candidates in Pagoh regardless of the situation,” said Kamarul.

The Pagoh delegates also urged the division to take the resolutions to the Umno Supreme Council for its consideration.

“The delegates feel it’s improper for Umno to work with a party that has slandered it,” said Kamarul.

The delegates, however, agreed that the division should support the Johor government until the next elections. 

Contesting under a PKR logo, Muhyiddin defended the Pagoh seat for a sixth term in the last elections after defeating Ismail and PAS candidate Ahmad Nawfal by 6,927 votes after winning 23,558 votes.

Citing difficulties working with the Chinese-majority party DAP, Muhyiddin then took Bersatu out of Pakatan Harapan last February, triggering the collapse of the federal government and subsequently the state governments in Kedah, Perak, Malacca and Johor.

The Pagoh seat consists of 66% Malays, Chinese (30%) and Indian (4%) voters.

The Bersatu president also won the Gambir state seat after winning 10,280 votes against Barisan Nasional’s M. Asojan Muniyandy (7,192) and PAS’ Mahfodz Mohamed (1,806). – January 3, 2021.