Ahmad Maslan urges end to public spat on Johor seats allocation

 

DEPUTY Minister of Works Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan has urged that seat-sharing disputes in Johor and Melaka be resolved discreetly to safeguard unity within the government.

The Johor UMNO deputy chief stressed that discussions should occur through proper channels rather than in public, following Amanah’s call for fair negotiations between PH and BN.

“I am waiting for the green light to discuss this. I do not like public quarrels. In good public communication, we should not be shouting here and there. We are one family,” he said.

In his view, representatives from Amanah at both the federal and state levels can sit down with UMNO to discuss.

“We need to negotiate, meet, sit together and talk, and then avoid issuing statements that hurt the other side,” Maslan said to a local Malay-language portal.

He reiterated the principle that parties traditionally retain seats they previously won, citing examples from BN and PKR.

He cited Mahkota, Nenggiri, Pelangai, Lamag and Kinabatangan as examples of BN-held seats where successors also came from BN.

“A similar situation happened in Sungai Bakap when the seat was retained by PKR as the original party that won it. This is clear. Whoever has won a particular seat will contest again in that area. That is the principle practised,” he said.

With BN dominating both states, he emphasised the need for preparation ahead of possible polls, as UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi signaled Melaka elections could be held within months. —Focus Malaysia