Muda, which is seeking to defend its sole seat in the Johor assembly during the upcoming state election, has welcomed any discussion with Parti Bersama Malaysia.
Noting that Muda is holding talks with other opposition parties to avoid seat clashes, party president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz said they are not against having dialogues with any opposition party that upholds “progressive principles”.
“If Bersama wants to discuss matters with us, our door is open - they just have to get in touch with us.
“Muda has a good relationship with PSM and Pejuang. We’ve already started discussions with them - not regarding seats, but on issues and policies in Johor,” Amira (above) told a press conference at Muda’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, today.
Bersama co-leaders Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad previously announced that their party will contest the Johor election, with the former ministers kickstarting their roadshow, dubbed “Jelajah Kancil”, in Johor later tonight.
Yesterday, Bersama president Syukri Razab said the party intends to go solo in the state polls, with its priority being to offer voters more options after seeing how parties and coalitions have performed since the last general election.
Amira, who was Muda’s singular representative in the Johor legislature as the Puteri Wangsa incumbent, further affirmed that no constituency should be considered a “safe seat” for any party.
“No party should think it is entitled to any seat - that is our belief. That is why, from the beginning, when major parties say ‘this is our seat’, we consider that an injustice to the people.
“We do not regard any seat as a safe seat, but we will work to retain the Puteri Wangsa seat,” she said.
Hinting that Muda might be fielding a number of candidates in other seats, Amira added that Muda information chief Rasid Abu Bakar, who has been appointed the party’s election director for the Johor polls, will disclose more details once a decision is made.
Muda’s candidate selection committee, which will be led by party vice-president Leben Siddarth, alongside fellow vice-presidents Faezrah Rizalman and Ahmad Zarul Afiq, is expected to carry out screenings before announcing any election hopefuls.
When contacted, Pejuang information chief Rafique Rashid Ali said the party has yet to finalise its list of candidates.
He also told Malaysiakini that Pejuang is holding “active discussions” with several other parties that share its ideals.
During the 2022 Johor election, Pejuang contested 42 of Johor’s 56 state seats, making it one of the largest opposition parties in terms of seat allocation.
However, the party failed to win a single seat, while Muda, which fielded candidates in seven seats, secured the Puteri Wangsa state constituency with a 7,114 vote majority against five other candidates.
Muda’s focus on avoiding seat clashes now could be due to its experience in the previous state polls, which saw it clashing with PKR for the Larkin seat - a situation that led to tense relations between both parties for a long period.
Early assembly dissolutions condemned
Separately, Amira today condemned the dissolution of the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state assemblies ahead of their terms’ end, claiming the decisions have robbed the voters while allowing politicians to not focus on the people’s welfare.
“Because they are politicians, they spend more time thinking about their positions and power, as well as when an election could be called to ensure their win.
“They prioritise political manoeuvring, while the people are merely chess pieces in their political calculations - this is deeply irresponsible. We have consistently said that the state assemblies should only be dissolved when their terms end,” she added.
Amira also emphasised that the government should be made to prioritise the people’s welfare, instead of finding ways to shift their attention to election campaigning.
“I have also seen several leaders from the governing coalition saying that the Negeri Sembilan assembly was dissolved because of the crisis (affecting the state).
“The crisis that occurred is a royal crisis - what do politicians have to do with the rulers? What politicians are doing now is hiding behind the royal institution (and) tarnishing the name of the royal institution purely for political interests,” Amira claimed.
Amid a royal crisis
On June 1, Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced the dissolution of the state legislative assembly, paving the way for the 16th state election.
Three days later, Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun announced the dissolution of the Negeri Sembilan legislature, effective June 5.
The Negeri Sembilan assembly’s dissolution, however, has been contested by certain quarters, amid an ongoing royal crisis which has seen the sacking of Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, followed by the installation of his replacement yesterday.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has since expressed his support for an election in the state, stressing that the rule of law and customary practices must be adhered to at all times.
He declared that the federal government continues to uphold Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir’s position as the Negeri Sembilan Yang di-Pertuan Besar. - Mkini
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