UMNO intends to field candidates for election in 42 of the 56 state seats in Johor, party deputy president Mohamad Hasan said today.

Mohamad said the party leaders have not started seat negotiations with other component parties but stated Umno is looking to contest at least 42 of the seats in the state elections.

“We are looking at a minimum 42 for Umno alone. 42 out of 56,” the Umno deputy president told reporters outside the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Mohamad was present in court today when Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was ordered to enter a defence to all 47 charges of misappropriation of funds from a charity organisation.

Mohamad, who is the party’s election director, said the Johor polls will be no walkover for Umno, which has the novel task of winning over 18-year-old voters. 

“We definitely have to prepare with a new focus for Johor which has more than 700,000 new voters. 

“Everyone has to work hard, including Umno. It’s not a walk in the park for Umno. We don’t know what we are going into,” he said. 

The electoral roll showed that as of January 14, more than 5.7 million people aged 18 and above have been automatically registered to vote.

About 700,000 of them will be eligible to vote in Johor.

Despite BN’s massive win in Malacca, Mohamad said the party cannot take victory for granted.

“Umno is in a good position now but we have to look at the tactics because not every election is the same.

“We cannot say that because we won handsomely in Malacca, we can take things granted in Johor. Every election is different. 

“We have to work hard, especially now with new voters registered automatically by the EC (Election Commission).

“We don’t know them; we can’t know their inclinations, who they will support and whether they will all come out to vote,” he said.

On Saturday, Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar consented to the dissolution of the state assembly, paving the way for polls. 

The incumbent BN government held 28 seats though Umno (14), MIC (2), Bersatu (11) and PAS (1). Pakatan Harapan has the remainder 27 seats via DAP (14), PKR (7) and Amanah (6). – January 24, 2022.