Johor polls: Umno willing to consider cooperating with non-BN parties

 

Umno is prepared to hold talks with any non-BN parties that wish to cooperate in the Johor snap polls, said party secretary-general Ahmad Maslan.

However, he said, the Malay party has not received any official requests as of yet. BN is the incumbent state government.

"BN will contest if there is a snap election for sure. How to contest, we still have time to discuss that," he said at a press conference in Johor Bahru earlier this evening.

Ahmad's presser was held before Johor's Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar assented to dissolve the state legislative assembly and make way for a snap election.

Yesterday, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man was reported as saying the party would consider discussing cooperation with Umno should there be a state election.

PAS and Umno had in 2019 signed the Muafakat Nasional political pact.

However, ties broke down after PAS joined the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, headed by Umno's rival Bersatu.

Previously, in the Malacca state election, Umno and PAS were on opposite sides, which led to a wipeout for PAS.

PAS won one seat in Johor in 2018, while Umno won 17.

Meanwhile, asked if Umno would replicate its Malacca success in Johor, Ahmad played it cool.

"BN won 75 percent of seats in Malacca, doesn't mean we are too confident in Johor, so we will make the necessary preparations," he said. - Mkini