Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan has dismissed claims that the upcoming Johor state election was linked to attempts by Umno leaders with pending corruption charges to bolster their positions through alleged judicial interference.
Shahril (above), in a statement, said to link the Johor polls with the 'court cluster' is clearly off the mark.
"It has nothing to do with the separation of powers between the executive and judiciary.
"In fact, isn't election one of the most basic practices in a democracy and therefore the separation of powers in itself - giving the people's mandate to the legislative?
"It has absolutely nothing to do with any court cluster," he said.
He was responding to Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan who yesterday predicted that Umno's "court cluster" may trigger more state elections after the dissolution of the Johor state assembly.
Wan Saiful had suggested that the court cluster - named so for the leaders who are being charged for corruption - felt that one way of escaping conviction is to destroy the separation of powers.
"To do so, they must seize power first. I would not be surprised if Johor is followed by other states," Wan Saiful said yesterday.
He said this in reference to allegations by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin that Umno leaders had wanted him to intervene in their court cases.
Meanwhile, Shahril pointed out that Umno and BN had contested in almost all by-elections and state elections since the last 14th general election, and the issue was never raised.
"Why is it that now when faced with the Johor election that these improper claims are made?
"Unless there are those who are becoming less confident in the ability of their own party?" he said.
The Johor state assembly was dissolved yesterday, paving the way for the third snap state election since 2020.
Incumbent menteri besar Hasni Mohammad yesterday said the state government with a single-seat majority in the 56-seat state assembly cannot continue to function based on the "goodwill" of the opposition.
The Umno-led government has a narrow majority of 28 seats to 27 following the death of former menteri besar Osman Sapian last month.
- Mkini
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