JOHOR Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad has remained non-committal on the timing of the state elections despite speculations that it could be held after the Chinese New Year.

Brushing off remarks with a laugh, Hasni said what was more important was the justification for the state elections to be held.

“I think the justification for why the Johor elections should be held is more important than when it should be held.

Hasni, who is also Johor Umno chief, said this when asked about the opposition’s statement that he should put a stop to speculations that the polls could be held as soon as after the Chinese New Year.

Hasni, who is the Benut state assemblyman, said he was bound by regulations and the state constitution and could not simply advise the sultan of Johor to dissolve the state assembly.

“I have stated that in a situation of a very slim majority, I need to be sensitive to the stability of the government,” he said.

Hasni said some investors also made the government’s stability as a pre-condition for investing in the state.
“As I have said earlier on the need to hold the elections, I cannot reject. I need to study the matter. The voices of the various parties cannot fall on deaf ears,” he added.

The Barisan Nasional-led Johor government’s majority in the state assembly has been reduced to only one seat following the death of Kempas assemblyman Osman Sapian last month.

The ruling coalition has 28 seats, with BN having 16, Bersatu 11 and PAS one, while Pakatan Harapan has 27 seats in the 56-seat state assembly. – Bernama, January 17, 2022.