'Everything can be negotiated' - Amanah veep on Johor seats

A senior Amanah leader has expressed confidence that the Pakatan Harapan component party will resolve issues surrounding seat negotiations with BN to face the next Johor state polls in a calm and rational manner.

Speaking at the party’s state convention in Alor Setar, Kedah, last night, Amanah vice-president Dzulkefly Ahmad said the party intends to pursue negotiations with BN in Johor in the spirit of cooperation.

“I will refrain from further comments, but I am confident that in the spirit of cooperation, everything can be negotiated. There is nothing off the table.

“So I hope in the spirit to develop the state and country, the leaderships of both BN and Harapan will keep calm and rational,” Dzulkefly (above) said, as quoted by Utusan Malaysia.

The Johor state government under Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi was formed following the 2022 state election in which BN won 40 out of 56 seats against Harapan and Perikatan Nasional.

The BN-led administration with no Harapan representatives in the state government has remained even after the two coalitions formed the present federal government following the 15th general election.

Last month, Johor Amanah deputy chairperson Dzulkefly Ahmad, who has the same name as the health minister, raised unhappiness over Harapan being kept out of the state administration and also demanded that his party be allowed to contest 20 seats in the election due by mid-2027.

The remark courted backlash from Johor Umno secretary Abdul Halim Sulaiman, who accused Amanah of being ungrateful.

‘We’ll ensure no clash’

Separately, Amanah vice-president Mahfuz Omar yesterday described Johor Amanah’s demand as a common practice in the negotiation process among political parties.

Mahfuz also expressed confidence the matter will be resolved by Harapan and BN.

“That (the issue of election seat distribution) is normal because, to me, as long as there is no final decision from the negotiations, there will definitely be parties claiming their rights.

“However, in the end, we will ensure that there will be no clash among ourselves, and I believe that Umno leadership also has the openness to look at the future of their political party,” he said when met by reporters after officiating the Perak Amanah Youth Annual Convention 2024 last night.

Previously, BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi downplayed the war of words between Johor Amanah and Johor BN, stating that any opinion shared publicly, apart from those by the top leaders, would be considered “personal opinions”.

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