WITH the Johor state election looming over the horizon, UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi criticised new political parties for not having a clear idea on what to offer Johor voters.
Training his guns against Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang), he stated that the party was just making general statements without offering anything specific to the votes.
“In my view, they are just contesting for the sake of it, which is very much what their leaders have in mind.
“Bear in mind, one of their leaders once said that a manifesto is not a holy book. So, it can be dismissed later on,” he said, alluding to Pejuang chairperson Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“As for the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA), Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) and Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan), all of them offer nothing new to Johoreans which is very irresponsible.”
During the Pakatan Harapan administration, then-prime minister Mahathir refused to implement the pledges made under the coalition’s manifesto, citing the document was not a holy book and the promises were made without anticipating a win at the general election.
On that note, Zahid said that Barisan Nasional’s (BN) manifesto offers the most progressive and comprehensive solution to develop Johor, compared to other parties.
“Other political parties don’t even offer a menteri besar (MB) candidate but our nominee, Datuk Hasni Mohamad even presented a manifesto.
“And our manifesto is filled with reforms and progressive ideas to ensure political stability. So, it’s not a surprise that our ideas were even copied by Pakatan leaders such as the proposal to table the anti-party hopping enactment.
“This is something feared by Perikatan Nasional,” the former deputy prime minister quipped.
It is to note that the Government had promised to table the anti-party hopping law at the Dewan Rakyat this month.
Putrajaya had also promised to amend the Federal Constitution to limit the prime minister’s tenure to two terms. Both measures were promised under the memorandum of understanding signed between the Government and Opposition bloc. – March 7, 2022
