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KUALA LUMPUR – Pakatan Harapan (PH) has prompted the government to honour assurances made in their memorandum of understanding (MoU) and to table the Anti-Party Hopping Bill at the Dewan Rakyat sitting that starts on February 28.
A statement issued by the PH presidential council said engagements with lawmakers discussing the new legislation had begun yesterday and reminded the government of its promise that the law will be tabled and passed in Parliament before or after March 24 this year.
“Hence, the presidential council is of the view that the Anti-Party Hopping Bill must be implemented as stated within the agreed MoU,” read the statement.
On the Johor election, the council said the government must reconsider postponing the polls considering the spike in Covid-19 cases to avoid the pandemic being used as political ammo.
However, PH said open campaigning that includes public lectures and speeches must be allowed if the administration does decide to go ahead with the state polls, adding how past experiences have shown that enforcing a lockdown following a rise in cases is not an effective containment strategy.
The council also warned the government against abusing its powers to go after businesses or using them as a scapegoat for the spike in cases, and instead focus their attention on the continuity of the educational sector and creating awareness among the public on their role in ensuring the wave of infections remain manageable.
“Do not burn the entire mosquito net to kill a mosquito,” read the statement.
It also included how PH have planned several programmes in the run-up to the elections, one of which will see them present a series of “offers” under the “Johor Bangkit: Maju, Bermaruah” campaign slogan.
The statement explained these offers would encompass aspects of the economy, social stability, and political reforms, details of which will be announced soon before the start of the election campaign period.
It said the coalition has decided to also host a series of tours to introduce its candidates once all component and aligned parties have confirmed their own candidates.
“This is to show PH’s preparedness in offering ranks of leaders capable of forming a stable Johor government, and one that is prepared to develop Johor post-pandemic,” read the statement.
Yesterday, the Election Commission said that Johor will go to the ballot boxes on March 12, with nomination day on February 26, and early voting taking place on March 8.
This comes after Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar assented to the dissolution of the state assembly over two weeks ago on January 22 to pave way for a fresh election, following an audience with Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad at the palace.
Umno has been pushing for a fresh mandate in the state, with the party holding a razor-thin majority of only one seat prior to the dissolution, following the death of Bersatu’s Kempas assemblyman Datuk Osman Sapian on December 21.
Osman’s death had left the Umno-led Johor government with 28 seats against PH’s 27.
The early election in Johor is the third in recent months, as Barisan Nasional clinched Melaka last November winning 21 of the 28 state constituencies, while its ally Gabungan Parti Sarawak won 76 of 82 seats in the Borneo state last December. – The Vibes, February 10, 2022