Mahkota results provide friendly-fire ammo for BN

The Madani coalition's landslide win in the Mahkota by-election does not appear to be helping partners BN and Pakatan Harapan strengthen their unity.

Instead, the results seem to be providing ammunition for some in BN to take shots at Harapan.

Before and immediately after the by-election, some in Harapan, particularly from Amanah, mooted the BN-led Johor state administration to join other Madani-led states in forming a "unity government".

However, some BN leaders are pushing back against such demands, citing Harapan's alleged failure to deliver votes.

“During the campaign, DAP promised 55 percent Chinese voter turnout," Johor Umno Youth chief Noor Azleen Ambros was quoted as saying by The Straits Times yesterday.

"The huge gap (in turnout) makes the question of forming a unity government at the Johor state level not a priority,” he added.

The report estimated Chinese voter turnout to be between 34 and 36 percent, while Johor BN deputy chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed placed the turnout at 34 percent.

Separately, analyst Bridget Welsh estimated a turnout of 43 percent, while Selangor's Institute Darul Ehsan placed the number closer to 49 percent.

Jazlan - who pressured DAP to ensure a high Chinese turnout prior to the polls - "acknowledged" DAP leaders campaigning in Mahkota for their "minor success" in convincing some Chinese voters to cast their ballots.

He was less kind to Amanah and their demands for a coalition government in Johor.

"I want to advise Amanah Youth and their leadership, make big contributions first then you can make all sorts of demands like wanting a unity government in Johor after Umno won Mahkota," he said on Facebook yesterday.

Jazlan further claimed that the Mahkota election showed that BN and Harapan need each other, hence why the latter should apologise for all their past attacks on BN.

Harapan leaders, in response, said that BN should be thanking Harapan for giving them a lifeline.

Not a pressing issue

MCA Youth information chief Neow Choo Seong said Harapan leaders pushing for a coalition government in Johor risk undermining public confidence in their sincerity.

"MCA Youth firmly calls on all political parties to refrain from pressuring the Johor state government, led by Onn Hafiz Ghazi, to form a unity government at this time.

"In a period where the rakyat’s welfare and the state’s growth must take precedence, political manoeuvring should be put aside in favour of unity in action and purpose," Neow said in a statement today.

Umno vice-president Khaled Nordin, likewise, indicated that forming a coalition government in Johor was not a pressing issue and that "time would tell" whether it would happen.

Instead, he said the more pressing issue now is for BN and Harapan to improve their cohesion before considering more distant aspects.

"Celebrate (victory) by expressing gratitude and humility and renew our resolve to continue our role in doing the best for the people," he added on Instagram today.

In response to the criticism against Harapan, Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong said in a statement that by all measurements Chinese turnout in Mahkota was closer to 50 percent and not 35 percent.

"More importantly, almost all Harapan core supporters, regardless of ethnicity, gave their full support to BN in this by-election.

"We were able to convince the voters that a vote for Syed Hussien is a vote for the leadership of Johor menteri besar, as well as a vote for the unity government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim," he said.

This is, he added, despite the Harapan team having to deal with a "very difficult campaign" due to unhappiness over the fight between Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, among others.

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