PN leaders reject calls to delay Johor, Melaka polls

 Johor PAS deputy commissioner Dr Mazri Yahya says there is no strong basis to do so while Melaka Bersatu information chief Hishamuddin Abdul Karim says the coalition is ready.

Umno Supreme Council member Ahmad Maslan and Johor PKR Youth chief Faezuddin Puad had called for the Johor and Melaka state elections to be postponed due to the Middle East conflict.

PETALING JAYA:

 Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders in Johor and Melaka have rejected calls to postpone elections in the two states following the Middle East conflict.

Johor PAS deputy commissioner Dr Mazri Yahya said there is no strong basis to delay the elections as Malaysia’s democratic system continues to function as usual despite the tensions in the Middle East.

He said Malaysia’s democratic processes should not be determined by the political will of any party.

“Elections, whether at the state or national level, cannot depend on the ‘whims and fancies’ of any political party. The democratic system must be based on principles, not short-term interests.

“Malaysia is functioning as usual, and the country is not at war on in a state of emergency,” he said, noting that some nations continued to hold elections despite facing conflict and global pressures.

Mazri said global crises should not be used as a reason to delay polls as they did not directly affect the country’s stability or security.

He also said Umno had previously pushed for earlier state elections, including in Melaka and Johor, when it believed it had a political advantage, even though the country had not fully recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic at the time.

Melaka Bersatu information chief Hishamuddin Abdul Karim said he believed that calls to postpone the elections reflected the concerns among certain parties over current public sentiment.

He said any delay would create the perception that government leaders were not confidence with their level of public support.

“Whether the elections are held soon or postponed, PN is ready. However, the people’s mandate should not be delayed for political considerations.

“If Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan have confidence in their performance, elections are the best platform to validate public support,” he said.

Yesterday, Umno Supreme Council member Ahmad Maslan and Johor PKR Youth chief Faezuddin Puad separately called for the Johor and Melaka state elections to be postponed due to the Middle East conflict.

Last month, Melaka chief minister Ab Rauf Yusoh confirmed that the Melaka state election is expected to be held within the next six months following the end of the 15th state assembly term on Dec 30.

Last May, Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the Johor state election would not be called early, as the state government’s term only ends in April 2027.

However, there are rumours that the Johor election may be held simultaneously with Melaka’s, and possibly alongside the 16th general election.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim dismissed the possibility of holding a general election in the near future, stating that it was more important for political parties to continue working together to find solutions amid the global energy crisis. - FMT