Johor BN chief downplays sabotage concerns after big names dropped

Johor BN chief Hasni Mohamad today downplayed concerns over possible internal sabotage linked to the dropping of several parliamentary incumbents.

Speaking to reporters at the state Umno building in Johor Bahru, Hasni said all three parties' divisions at all 26 parliamentary seats have committed to launch their respective machinery ahead of official campaigning on Saturday.

"We are dealing with people so we do have to accommodate there will be some form of setback, disappointment and unhappiness.

"Not just to the big names that were dropped, but also to their supporters," he added.

"Give them a bit of time. I would expect this to happen in the next one or two days but right after that I believe that everybody will do their level best and proceed with their campaigns," said Hasni who will be contesting in Simpang Renggam.

Ahead of BN's official candidates’ announcement on Tuesday, rumours that at least two ministers from Johor will be dropped - incumbent Tenggara MP Adham Baba and incumbent Kota Tinggi MP Halimah Mohd Sadique - prompted protests from grassroots in the two Umno strongholds.

It was later revealed that BN has fielded Tenggara Umno Youth chief Manndzri Nasib to replace Adham, while Umno vice-president Mohd Khaled Nordin replaces Halimah.

Hasni also insisted that BN's move to field new faces in the area would not negatively impact its machinery.

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"Even the big names like Adham or Halimah who were dropped, they have all stated the commitments of their machinery," he added.

Earlier, Hasni together with Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi presented appointment letters to all parliamentary BN candidates from Umno, MCA and MIC.

Target to win 20 seats

Based on strength of BN's candidates, Hasni said the coalition has set a target to win 20 out of 26 seats - 16 from Umno and the remaining from its component partners.

“I as Johor BN election director, together with Onn Hafiz as operations director, will plan our strategies and approaches to meet the leadership's target," he said.

Among top BN leaders contesting in Johor include MCA president Wee Ka Siong in Ayer Hitam, Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein in Sembrong and Wanita Umno chief Noraini Ahmad in Parit Sulong.