Johor PH to handle seat talks for state polls, says Anwar

 

Anwar Ibrahim says the opposition must have one voice, one action and one strategy to defeat the Barisan Nasional-Umno government.

PETALING JAYA: Johor Pakatan Harapan (PH) is responsible for negotiating seat distribution for the coming state elections, coalition chairman Anwar Ibrahim said today.

He said the negotiations would include seats that were held by three former Amanah assemblymen who left the party for PKR in March last year.

Anwar said PH wanted to cooperate with all opposition parties for the polls, including Pejuang, Warisan and Muda.

“If there are any cracks (among the opposition), it will not help. So, we must have one voice, one action and one strategy to ensure the Barisan Nasional-Umno government is defeated, starting in Johor,” said Anwar, who is the opposition leader.

“We will gather all the opposition parties, Pejuang, Warisan, Muda, and others, even civil societies and NGOs that want to see change in this country,” he told reporters at the PKR headquarters today after chairing a PH leadership meeting.

He also said the coalition would decide on whether to contest under the PH banner as in Melaka or under the PKR flag, as with the 2018 general election.

“After our experience in Melaka, the PKR grassroots have been quite vocal in asking for the PKR logo to be used again. Our other comrades feel that the PH flag is more suitable. But we will finalise this over the next two days,” he said.

Among the PH leaders seen at the meeting today were DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Amanah secretary-general Hatta Ramli and PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil.

The Johor state assembly was dissolved on Saturday after weeks of speculation and calls from Umno leaders for fresh polls. Elections to the state assembly must be held within 60 days of the dissolution, and must take place on or before March 23.

The Election Commission will meet on Feb 9 to set the dates for nominations and polling. - FMT