UMNO leaders facing court cases and several other politicians are scheming for polls to be held in Johor for their own selfish interests, said Bersatu’s election director.

Badrul Hisham Shaharin, who is better known as Che’gu Bard, said these political personalities were pushing Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad to call for early elections.

A state Umno leader denied his party was pressing for polls. He said it was the opposition, Pakatan Harapan which stood to gain if elections were held as  the Barisan Nasional/Perikatan Nasional, ruling coalition had only a single-seat advantage in the state assembly.

Political analysts, meanwhile, ruled out snap polls in the state for now.

BN/PN has 28 seats in the assembly through Umno (14), MIC (2), PAS (1) and Bersatu (11). PH has 27 seats via DAP (14), Amanah (6) and PKR (7).

Badrul told The Malaysian Insight calls for early elections in Johor were from desperate people who did not hold a position in the state administration or who were on trial for corruption.

“The elections agenda is dreamed up by leaders who want to save themselves from prosecution and by political players.

“They want to stir up trouble for the prime minister in the general election,” he said.

Badrul said even though BN won the Malacca elections by a landslide, support for the Umno-led coalition in the state had grown by only by 5%.

“That’s why they do not dare go for a general election but insist on elections in Johor when there is no need for it if you look at the performance of the current administration.

“The excuse is that the ruling pact has only a one-seat majority in the state assembly.”

Badrul said the Bersatu leadership had shown no indication that elections would be held anytime soon in Johor.

However, he said the party was ready to negotiate seats to maintain Malay dominance.

He expects talks with Umno for cooperation in state polls to fail due to interference from some of the party leaders .

“If negotiations fail, we will be left with no choice but we are ready to contest in all seats,” he said.

Don’t blame Umno

Meanwhile, Johor Umno deputy chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed denied the Malay party wanted state elections to be held soon.

He said on the contrary, the party leaders wished to avoid elections as much it was possible to because they wanted to focus on the economic recovery of the state that had been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

On the other hand, he said, PH would be motivated to play dirty politics because its leaders knew the state government had only a one-seat majority.

“PH said it wants to support the state government, but behind the scene, it is still pushing for polls.

“On the outside in Johor, the situation is calm but behind the scene, the threats continue.  That’s why I said, if it’s about the elections, ask PH,” he said.

Nur Jazlan, however, said Johor Umno had been prepared since last year for elections.

He said Umno would stand alone, without working with Bersatu or PAS, in the state and general elections.

“I reiterate our stand that Umno wants to contest alone without Bersatu or PAS,” he said.

Political analysts ruled out the possibility of Johor elections in the near future.

Ilham Centre executive director Hisomudin Bakar said he did not see the Johor election being held if there was no pressure from other parties.

“This is because there is a memorandum of understanding between PH and the government so we do not see any pressure in Johor.

“We do not see a crisis in Johor as there was in Malacca, and the opposition has not put pressure on the menteri besar and the Johor government over the slim majority.

“In this situation where there is no pressure, if you want to hold an election, then you want to get a big government with a stable majority. It is better to do it during GE15,” he said.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia political analyst Mazlan Ali said elections should not be held at a time the country was facing an ailing economy, Covid-19 and flood disasters.

He said if the Johor elections were to take place, it would be because Umno leaders wanted to keep up the momentum of success from the Malacca polls.

“But we do not see a response from the opposition and we do not see any attempt to intimidate the state government.

“So for that reason, I see Umno clapping with one hand. If Umno wants elections, it must go to the sultan of Johor.  Because the power to dissolve this state assembly is in the hands of the Johor menteri besar and the sultan,” he said.

Mazlan did not rule out Umno coming up the big winner if Johor elections were held.

“It will be like the Malacca polls. There will be a lower voter turnout and that will give the advantage to Umno,” he said. – January 14, 2022.