THE division among Pakatan Harapan coalition partners would only serve as an advantage to UMNO in the Johor state election, said former Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia leader A Kadir Jasin.
“The people want change and many parties opposed to UMNO are coming up but they are more fragmented now compared to during the Melaka state election.
“PKR wants to use its own logo in the election, leaving only the DAP and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) using the Pakatan banner.
“This decision will confuse voters and portray the Opposition as being selfish, which will work to UMNO’s advantage,” he said, in a Facebook post.
For the upcoming Johor state election, Pakatan made a bizarre decision where PKR will be contesting using its own logo, leaving the rest using the coalition banner.
While DAP and Amanah tried to persuade PKR to change its mind, PKR organising secretary Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said his party made the decision as the coalition’s banner “carried too much baggage”.
Touching on UMNO, Kadir said the nationalist party was not as strong as it was being touted to be, adding a three-cornered fight between Barisan Nasional (BN), Perikatan Nasional and Pakatan would only serve to the former’s advantage.
Nonsensical Khaled
He added that since the resignation of the third prime minister, Tun Hussein Onn in 1981, Johor UMNO was unable to put forth strong candidates in leadership roles.
“We cannot include Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in the equation because he came to power through treachery,” Kadir opined.
The veteran newsman also dismissed UMNO vice president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin’s statement that the people have moved on from the “court cluster” group and were seeking stability and economic rejuvenation.
“I have a hard time believing someone who lost in his home ground, in the last general election. The ‘court cluster’ will use every opportunity available to keep themselves relevant until their final appeal process at the Federal Court.
“But with COVID-19 cases soaring and the people getting tired of leaders in denial mode, I won’t be surprised if the Johor state election records a low turnout of voters,” he remarked. – Feb 14, 2022
