DAP’s declare emergency call to prevent Melaka, Johor state polls a ploy to avoid “Sabah’s 8-0 rout”?

 

DAP Melaka chairman Khoo Poay Tiong has come under heavy fire after he joined UMNO supreme council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan in mooting a deferment of the upcoming Melaka and Johor state elections by means of submitting a petition to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to declare a state of emergency.

The justification is such that mounting pressure faced by the rakyat from spiralling cost of living following the global energy crisis has raised questions about the appropriateness of holding elections in the near future.

Amid speculations that both state polls can be held as early as June or July this year, Khoo contended that this would divert resources, time and energy from more pressing matters.

“The proposal is just one approach based on my experience during the COVID-19 pandemic,” defended the Kota Melaka MP in a Facebook post after his views attracted condemnation of sorts from detractors.

“If it is not suitable, we can discuss and find other alternatives – for example, waiting until the global situation stabilizes before holding elections. Moreover, why the rush when state elections are actually only required to be held no later than February 2027.”

For the record, Pontian MP Ahmad who is also the Johor UMNO deputy chairman has clarified that his proposal to delay the Melaka and Johor state polls is purely his personal view and in no way represent UMNO’s position on the matter.

Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan

The Deputy Works Minister further contended that he made the suggestion based on his experience as the party’s former information chief and secretary-general, adding that timing was a critical factor in http:// politics.

BN and PH not ready for state polls

Ironically, Ahmad’s proposal was seconded by Khoo’s comrade and Johor DAP vice-chairman Sheikh Omar Ali who reckoned that the coordination of simultaneous state polls “has the potential to save public costs and increase the efficiency of election management by the authorities”.

“However, any decision regarding the postponement of state elections must be made by taking into account the provisions of the Federal Constitution, the views of all stakeholders and mature democratic principles,” he asserted.

Although he was not the only state leader who voiced such proposal, Khoo received the more severe criticism with rightist UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dt Muhamad Akmal Saleh admonishing the DAP for “lacking the ability and capability to govern this country well”.

“Back when BN (Barisan Nasional) was the government, we faced an economic crisis, too, but there was no such need to declare an emergency,” he jibed in a FB retaliation.

“Today, economic crises are happening in other countries too, but the need to declare an emergency doesn’t arise at all. Therefore, what the rakyat should be declaring is to chuck you out from being the government. Stupid!!!”

Elsewhere, PAS activist Nurul Islam Mohamed Yusoff has likened the declaring a state of emergency proposal as “a ploy to save UMNO, PKR and DAP from collapsing”.

“But the strange thing is that when political emergency was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, DAP had slammed the motion as intended to save the then ruling PN (Perikatan Nasional) government,” the Selangor PAS information committee deputy chairman recounted in a FB post.

Unlike the COVID-19 period when the whole country was in a state of lockdown, the emergency issue shouldn’t have arisen this time around as the government system can function normally.

Actually, you guys are the ones who failed to govern well. When you lose support, you resort to trickery to postpone the election.

Haaaa … that’s how PH and BN (Barisan Nasional) behave. Shameful. Be a little gentleman in the face of the rakyat’s anger.

Insofar as the Melaka state poll is concerned, UMNO is the party that will lose the most seats. I expect UMNO to only have three seats left (from current 20). As for DAP and PKR who have been relying on Chinese votes, the Chinese are expected to boycott the voting process.

Chinese voters are very disappointed with the Madani government. Add to that the current economic situation. The survey on the attitude of Chinese voters is clear. The Sungai Bakap scenario will repeat itself. –  Focus Malaysia