Johor PAS says want to play peacemaker in spat between state Umno, Bersatu leaders

JOHOR BARU: Johor PAS wants to play peacemaker between the state’s Umno and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, in which a public spat is threatening the Perikatan Nasional state government’s stability.

Its commissioner Abdullah Husin said that it was not good for Perikatan to have Umno and Bersatu leaders having a go at each other, especially with the country facing the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Furthermore, it is now the Ramadan month where we must learn to control ourselves from infighting as well as to be patient.

“PAS is willing to be a peacemaker for the good of Perikatan, ” he said when met at Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) here Monday (May 4).

Abdullah, who is also the Khidmat Malaysia Johor patron, handed out personal protective equipment (PPE) donated by the public to HSA staff in their fight against Covid-19.

He added that he would be meeting with state Bersatu chairman Mazlan Bujang soon to see what were the issues faced by the party in their spat against Umno and said he hopes to find an amicable solution on the matter.

Abdullah stressed that unlike the Umno and PAS relationship, which was forged under the Muafakat Nasional, Bersatu was still new in its association with the two parties through Perikatan.

He said it would take Bersatu some time to adapt to the new coalition with Umno and PAS.

“There is no problem between Mazlan, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad, who is the state Umno chief, and myself.

“Perhaps the problem comes from grassroots leaders from the two parties, and I hope that it will be water under the bridge soon, ” he said.

When asked if the problem between Umno and Bersatu would lead to one of them leaving Perikatan, which would result to a state election, Abdullah said that it must be avoided at all cost.

“For the good of the Ummah and the Malays, both parties must find a common ground to end their squabble, ” he said.

Last Saturday (May 2), the state Bersatu had rubbished talk that it is leaving Perikatan due to dissatisfaction over several political appointments.

Bersatu’s Mazlan said the grouses were a “trivial matter” and it was normal for parties in a coalition to have disagreements among themselves.

“I don’t see this as a big issue. It is merely the nature of working in a coalition, ” he added.

Talk of Johor Bersatu ditching Perikatan surfaced last week after its two assemblymen openly criticised the state government over the appointments of the top posts in several state GLCs (government-linked companies).

The assemblymen claimed the distribution of the appointments were not balanced and favoured Umno.

They also questioned the appointment of former mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who is Umno vice-president, as chairman of Yayasan Pasir Gudang.

Johor Perikatan consists of Umno which has 14 seats, Bersatu (11), and MIC (two), while PAS and an Independent have one seat each – the coalition holds a slim majority of 29 seats in the 56-seat state legislative.

Johor Pakatan Harapan holds 27 seats with DAP having 14 seats, Parti Amanah Negara (nine) and PKR (four).

Mazlan said the grouses were the two assemblymen’s personal opinion and not Johor Bersatu’s.

“As a party, we do not have any issue with Umno and are working together to govern the state, ” said the Puteri Wangsa assemblyman. - Star