Zahid under fire for no attack on PH ‘gag order’ in Johor, “national level harmony comes first”

 

DETRACTORS who are made up of UMNO grassroots are seemingly at loggerheads with their president for mooting a “mature politics” approach by refraining from attacking, criticising or disparaging its  political rivals throughout campaigning for the 16th Johor state election.

They have apparently chided Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who is also the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman for fooling the Bangsa Johor who are steadfast at rejecting Madani ally Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the July 11 state polls.

While BN aspires to increase its seat tally, success would depend on the ability of its campaign machinery, including the media, social media and grassroots workers, to respond effectively to issues raised by the opposition, according to Zahid.

“We’ve reached an understanding that we’ll not attack our opponents despite our differences in views and opinions on Johor,” he told a media conference after launching the Benut state seat’s Gelombang Biru campaign in Kampung Parit Ismail here today.in Pontian yesterday (June 27).

“We must look at the bigger picture at the national level.”

BN is contesting all 56 state seats in the election by fielding 37 UMNO candidates, MCA (15) and MIC (four).

In the 2022 Johor state election, BN secured a two-thirds majority after winning 40 of the 56 state seats to form the state government.

However, the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) was chided for his apparent ‘peace buying’ stance, particularly by taking the UMNO grassroots as “fools” when the prevailing sentiment is to reject PH.

Such was the gist of feedback on the subject from a Facebook post by Malay language political  news portal Arus Malaysia.

Few commenters reminded UMNO members that the party was in dire straits/mess because of Zahid who has no guts “to counter PH who is in the midst of attacking UMNO and BN instead”.

One commenter reckoned that Zahid should shoulder the blame if BN loses the Johor state polls “because UMNO paved the way for PH to form a federal government partnership”.

Another recounted how UMNO is at PH’s mercy given Zahid’s “unsettled 47 cases” comprising criminal breach of trust (CBT), corruption and money laundering.

In fact, the ground consensus is such that the compromises lobbied by Zahid – if heeded – can be detrimental to UMNO to the extent of jeopardising UMNO’s chances of winning the Johor state polls.

If such is the case then, UMNO if left with little option except to remove its “power greedy” president for betraying the party’s trust.

Either way, some commenters insinuated that it does not matter who between UMNO and PH win the state election.

“If UMNO doesn’t have enough seats, PH can still admit UMNO (as its ally),” suggested one observer while another was of the view that “both UMNO and PH will return as partners after the election”.

This is when one commenter expressed gratefulness that such arrangement will only be enforced “till GE16 (16th General Election) after which “the sickening unity government rule will cease to exist”. –  Focus Malaysia

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