Let Amanah, Umno have 'healthy competition' for Mahkota seat - Boo

Coalition government partners - Amanah and Umno - should be allowed to engage in a “healthy competition” in the looming Mahkota by-election, said a Johor DAP leader. 

Former Johor DAP chief Dr Boo Cheng Hau said the friendly rivalry could be “a testing ground for such a sophisticated political enigma”. 

“The philosophies of Pakatan Harapan and BN are not exactly the same, but after the establishment of the coalition government at the federal level, both coalitions can still cooperate in the common interests of the country and the people. 

“Therefore, Johor can progress steadfastly if both inter-coalition cooperation and healthy competition are maintained between Harapan and BN at the same time,” Boo said in a statement today.

He added that such an arrangement is nothing new in the country as former prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein first established and led a coalition government during his tenure.

“Therefore, the situation in Johor is nothing peculiar and both Harapan and BN should maintain a unity government relationship at the federal level, there are more benefits for the country’s democracy whilst maintaining a healthy competition and checks-and-balances relationship in Johor,” he added.

This comes after Kluang Amanah defended the division’s bid to contest the Mahkota state seat which was announced several days after the death of its incumbent, former Kluang Wanita Umno chief Syarifah Azizah Syed Zain.

This is despite state DAP chief Liew Chin Tong saying that the state chapter will adhere to the principle of “incumbency” where the party that won the seat in the previous polls would field a candidate in the by-election as well.

‘Incumbency’ cuts both ways

Citing the incumbency principle, Boo urged Johor Harapan to continue to work hard to regain the southern state government with a greater majority than it had in 2018.

The narrative that the incumbents keep the original constituency, he said, was neither in the long-term interests of the Harapan component parties nor the interest of Johor’s progressive democracy.

“For the ‘incumbency theory’ to apply, according to the current situation, Johor DAP can only contest the 10 state seats it previously won in the next by-election or state election. 

“This means that DAP will never be able to win back all the 14 seats that it had once won before, while PKR and Amanah will only be allowed to contest one seat each. 

“Therefore, the ‘incumbency theory’ will never allow Harapan to govern Johor ever, or even to gain a sufficient bargaining chip in negotiations to form a unity government in Johor,” he added.

Boo also urged relevant parties to put aside their personal interests - which will only strengthen rivals - and help Harapan’s component parties grow stronger.

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