TEBRAU Bersatu division chief Mazlan Bujang, the former Puteri Wangsa assemblyman, has quit the party and declared support for Barisan Nasional (BN).

Mazlan, who was state education, information, heritage and culture committee chairman before the Johor assembly was dissolved on Saturday, said he is now not a member of any party although he supports BN.

Announcing his resignation at a press conference Johor Baru today, Mazlan said 22 members of the Tebrau Bersatu division were also quitting the party.

“I have also decided to support the leadership of Caretaker Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad for him to lead Johor again for the sake of political stability and the future of the people.

“I made this decision based on the need to establish a stable government, a leadership that enjoys the confidence (of the people) and the failure of the two previous menteris besar to govern Johor well,” he said. 

Mazlan said he had prepared his resignation letter and would submit it soon.

He also confirmed claims by a senior Johor Bersatu leader that he had never attended any state-level party meetings chaired by Muhyiddin Yassin, who replaced him as state party chief in 2020.

However, Mazlan said he had the decency to send a representative to the meetings.

“Today, I can talk. Throughout my tenure as the Johor Bersatu chief, appointed by the president himself, I was boycotted; Pagoh (Muhyiddin) did not even send a representative to the meetings.

“After he took over my position, why should I attend to respect him when he did not show me any respect?” he asked.

Mazlan confirmed he had received offers to join other parties but avoided talking about it because he did not want to aggravate the situation.

“I would be lying if I say there were no offers. I respect my friends, including those in Pakatan Harapan. They are my good friends although we have different political views. We leave such matters (political direction) to Allah for we do not know what is to come. I place the interests of Johor far above my own,” he added.

Mazlan urged all Bersatu members and supporters to self-reflect and support the leadership of Hasni and BN in the upcoming state elections.

The Election Commission will meet on February 9 to set the dates for the snap state polls. – Bernama, January 27, 2022.