Hadi says PAS to back Umno for Johor MB, but Onn rules out any pact

JOHOR POLLS | PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has backed Umno to lead Johor, saying the party is prepared to contribute its seats to help Umno secure the menteri besar post.

"If there are any weaknesses (with Umno not having a majority), PAS can make up for that weakness, depending on the number of seats we win.

'It is not about a simple majority, nor a two-thirds majority. If PAS has enough seats to make up the numbers, PAS can provide that support. Or if there is no sufficient majority, adding PAS into the equation can make up for it.

"What is important is the political power of Malays and Muslims, as well as non-Muslims who are not extreme. If MCA wins, MIC wins, Umno also wins, that is enough. If (Umno) already has enough, then there is no problem,” Hadi (above) said at a press conference after a state election campaign speech at Simpang Jeram last night.

In a related development, caretaker Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi "guaranteed" that PAS will never be part of the Johor government if he is reappointed as menteri besar.

Onn categorically denied Pakatan Harapan's allegations that BN is ceding seats to PAS in exchange for government positions for PAS members later. He further dismissed the claim as a political narrative designed to mislead the Chinese community.

"Did you see me going to Maharani? I have also personally gone to campaign for BN candidates in places like Kahang, where PAS is contesting."

He emphasised that there is fundamentally no cooperation whatsoever between BN and PAS.

Platform to strengthen dominance

Separately, Malaysia Gazette reported Hadi expressing worry over a call by 134 Chinese NGOs urging the community's voters to return to vote in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections.

Hadi reportedly described the Johor state election as important in safeguarding the political power of Malays and Muslims, who make up the majority population.

At the same time, he lamented that many Malay-Muslim voters were still unwilling to turn out to vote.

“If non-Muslims come out to vote, they will dominate politics. If we do not come out to vote, political power will be lost. Political power is important for Muslims. Therefore, I am calling on Muslims to unite.

“We are also inviting non-Muslims who are not extreme to join us. It is the extremists that we are dealing with,” he was quoted as saying.

In a joint statement yesterday after a press conference, the Chinese associations, which include the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH), said that while they understand some voters feel disillusioned, choosing not to vote will not change the status quo.

Speaking at the press conference, KLSCAH president Ngan Teng Ye pointed out that the two state elections are not merely a reshuffling of local governance, but a crucial test of public opinion regarding the country’s democratic progress and institutional reforms.

Apart from KLSCAH, other signatories to the joint statement include Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees' Association), Jiao Zong (United Chinese School Teachers' Association), Merdeka University Berhad (MUB), various state Chinese assembly halls, the Centre for Malaysian Chinese Studies (CMCS), and the LLG Cultural Foundation.

Continuity of Malay-Muslim political power

Malaysia Gazette reported Hadi also admitting that the Islamist party is not strong in Johor, and therefore willing to support Umno and BN to ensure the continuity of Malay-Muslim political power in the state.

“That is why we are also willing to cooperate with MCA and MIC, which are not extreme.

“The parties in Harapan, including the Malay party within Harapan, do not understand this matter. DAP wants to implement the concept of ‘Malaysian Malaysia’,” he said.

Hadi went on to add that many Chinese and Indian communities also did not have an extreme approach, and this was proven when DAP was rejected in Sabah.

“If Chinese voters in Sabah can reject DAP, why can’t Chinese voters in Johor do the same? Indians are the same,” he reportedly said.

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