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KUALA LUMPUR – Possible political instability and potential scuppering by the state opposition when it comes to the passing of bills is the main reason Umno opted to propose the dissolution of the Johor assembly to ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.
The state’s caretaker menteri besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad told a press conference that even though there is a nationwide ceasefire between the Pakatan Harapan opposition coalition and Perikatan Nasional/Barisan Nasional, he cannot simply rely on that deal.
Citing an incident in the state assembly recently, the Benut assemblyman recalled how the opposition’s agreement on the ceasefire can be nothing more than honeyed words.
“During a recent assembly, we were faced with a discussion to allow opposition representatives to be part of district action committees. I tried explaining to them multiple times that this was not the decision of the state government.
“We were given instructions from the number one in the Prime Minister’s Office (Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob) that disallows this. However, they continued pressing the matter and it ended in a deadlock – 27-all.
“The speaker, who was supposed to be neutral, was forced to act on good will and cast the tie-breaker in favour of the government,” said Hasni.
He pointed out that with a one-seat majority, it is unquestionable that the state administration was in an extremely unstable position.
Umno’s majority in the assembly dropped from 29 to 28 with the death of Bersatu’s Kempas assemblyman Datuk Osman Sapian on December 21.
This leaves it with only a single-seat majority against the opposition’s 27 held seats.
“I want Johor to continue to be a developed state with strong development planning, and in order to achieve this, I need a fresh mandate,” said Hasni.
Meanwhile, he added that he hopes Umno will be able to contest in more seats than it did in the 14th general election.
As for seat allocation within the BN coalition, he said he the respective party presidents will discuss the matter and make decisions in the near future.
On the matter of Umno’s chances at winning the state election, Hasni says they are “extremely good”. – The Vibes, January 22, 2022