Bersatu fears low voter turnout in Johor will result in Umno landslide

 

JOHOR POLLS | Bersatu has raised concern over possible low voter turnout in the upcoming Johor state election, resulting in Umno's landslide victory, just like how it happened in the Malacca polls three months ago.

Party information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan (above) said he does not believe certain opinions that the Health Ministry deliberately inflated the number of Covid-19 cases to intimidate voters into not voting.

"Such accusations against the ministry are not appropriate," he said.

Wan Saiful, however, said that Umno would be ecstatic if people are afraid or do not bother to come out to cast their ballots.

"Umno's strategy is to maximise the turnout rate of their staunch voters because the majority of its hardcore voters reside within the constituencies.

"If the voters who lived outside choose not to return home, Umno will be happy because most of these voters support Perikatan Nasional or Pakatan Harapan instead of Umno," he said.

Wan Saiful said he drew his conclusions based on the Malacca state election last November, which only saw a 65.85 percent turnout. BN swept 21 of the 28 state seats it contested.

"Umno won in Malacca when those out of the state did not return to vote. They aim to repeat this in Johor," he said.

"(That's why) I expressed my concern about voter turnout in the upcoming state election during a tour in Kukup state constituency," he added.

Single-seat majority

Wan Saiful urged Johoreans to return to cast their ballots.

"This is the opportunity to determine the future of Johor. Do not squander this opportunity and make sure that your vote will stop the greed and arrogance of BN and Umno," he said.

Bersatu, together with its ally PAS, are expected to contest 40 state seats.

The Johor polls will be held on March 12, with nomination set on Feb 26.

The 56-seat Johor state assembly was dissolved on Jan 22 after incumbent Johor menteri besar Hasni Mohammad met with the sultan.

The Johor government became fragile after the death of Kempas assemblyperson Osman Sapian, leaving Hasni with just a majority of a single seat in the state assembly.

Osman's death left BN with 28 seats, comprising Umno (14 seats), MIC (two), Bersatu (11) and PAS (one), against Pakatan Harapan's 27 seats, comprising DAP (14), PKR (seven) and Amanah (six).

The Johor election is the fourth state poll during the Covid-19 pandemic period and after the 2018 general election. - Mkini