Johor MB should explain 'support Azmin' declaration - Ledang rep

Johor Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad was urged to explain why his state had required Chinese village chiefs to pledge support to cabinet minister Azmin Ali.

In a statement today, Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh urged Hasni (above) to tell Johoreans whether he condoned this practice.

"Isn't asking the Chinese community to back Azmin a move which is against the interests of Johor and disrespectful to the Menteri Besar?" asked Syed Ibrahim.

Azmin is a Selangor native with no roots in Johor and is not a member of Umno, which Hasni is a member of.

Malaysiakini has attempted to contact Hasni's office for comment but has yet to receive a response.

Yesterday, Hasni's state executive councillor and independent lawmaker Chong Fatt Full confirmed that Chinese new village chiefs in the state were required to sign the pledge.

According to a copy of the pledge sighted by Malaysiakini, the signatory would provide "sokongan padu" (full support) to a "wadah politik baru" (new political platform) to be formed under Azmin's leadership.

Chong said that unlike the time of Pakatan Harapan's administration in Johor, these new village chiefs need not be party members.

"We never asked anyone to resign from their parties. We only want them to declare their loyalties and show that they are aligned with PN. Otherwise, how would we cooperate and get things done?

"These are all political appointments. It would make things easier if they would, at least, declare their support for us," said the Pemanis lawmaker.

[Editor's note: When contacted, DAP's Tangkak assemblyperson Ee Chin Li said Harapan never forced village chiefs to join their party, pointing to the fact that some village chiefs were independent NGO heads.]

Meanwhile, Syed Ibrahim reiterated calls for Chong to be investigated by the MACC because he would gain political advantage by turning the village chiefs into Azmin supporters.

"There is clearly a conflict of interest and abuse of power to 'buy' political support," alleged Syed Ibrahim. - Mkini