After seat swap spat, Johor Amanah leader now stumps for Muda

GE15 | All signs of tension between Johor Amanah and Muda over the candidacy in the Tanjung Piai parliamentary seat appears to have ceased. There were several sharp verbal exchanges between the two parties prior to official nominations last Saturday.

Last night, Johor Amanah central committee leader Mazlan Aliman, who previously criticised his party leaders for giving up the Tanjung Piai seat, gave his full support to Muda's candidate Lim Wei Jiet.

"To me, no matter what we are facing, in the framework of Pakatan Harapan's solidarity and together with Muda as our 'plus' partner, we must set aside all sentiments and emotions between our parties.

"So, taking into account our need to focus on going up against BN, we must be together with Muda (in our march) towards Putrajaya," said Mazlan when met after his get-together with Lim and the Muda machinery.

Aside from the parties' supporters, also seen at the event were uniformed and plainclothes police personnel as well as Election Commission observers.

Mazlan said while he had spoken up on behalf of Amanah's grassroots in Tanjung Piai who were initially unhappy to give up the seat, all outstanding matters have been resolved ahead of nomination day last Saturday.

"While we as (Johor Amanah) leaders are in solidarity with our grassroots, a decision has been made and we must abide by the Harapan presidential council.

"Even when I make public comments (on Tanjung Piai's candidacy), that does not mean we (Johor Amanah) will do something to hurt our own party," he stressed.

Felda areas

The former National Farmers Organisation chairperson said he had gone to a number of Felda settlements to campaign for Harapan candidates.

Mazlan also recorded a social media campaign video with Lim, highlighting how a younger candidate can better help develop Tanjung Piai's potential in the agricultural and fisheries sectors, among other improvements needed.

Asked about Muda's relations with Harapan, Lim said both parties have resolved their differences and they can now focus on the electoral campaign.

Lim also said he has so far received good feedback from local voters met on his campaign trail along the southern tip of Johor.

“But there are also some of them who are curious.

“They don't know who Muda is so we have to explain who we are, what we stand for. So, we just have to work harder," said Lim, now on his second campaign trail after successfully contesting the Tenang state seat at the March state polls.

BN's incumbent Tanjung Piai MP Wee Jeck Seng is defending his seat won during the 2019 by-election, called after the death of Bersatu's Md Farid Md Rafiq, who defeated him in GE14 a year earlier.

Aside from Lim and Wee, Perikatan Nasional is fielding Najwah Halimah.

Day 4 | Perak DAP modifies billboard after getting complaints

Multi-coalition govt may return post-GE15, say analysts

'Water over dam, under bridge', Salahuddin says over Johor Amanah issues

Muda's minister hunt might earn greenhorn party some scalps

Johor Amanah leader rips into 'weak' bosses over seat distribution