LETTER | No need for Johor snap polls

LETTER | Rumours of a snap election in Johor is getting stronger and speculation is rife that the Johor state assembly might be dissolved after Chinese New Year.

Speculations of a snap election surfaced following the death of the former menteri besar and Kempas state assemblyperson Osman Sapian who passed away in December.

Following his death, the current state government has a slim one-seat majority. Presently, BN has 16 seats while Perikatan Nasional’s Bersatu provides support with 12 seats with PAS supporting with one seat. The opposition Pakatan Harapan (Harapan) coalition, made up of DAP, Amanah and PKR, has 27 seats.

Some are claiming that the push for a snap election is led by a small faction in Umno aligned to party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi after seeing Umno’s spectacular victory in the Malacca polls and GPS’ victory in Sarawak, where in both states the opposition Harapan was decimated.

However, in the case of the Malacca state election, the fall of the Umno state government was precipitated by its own state reps led by a former chief minister, who withdrew support for the then incumbent chief minister and crossed over to Harapan. That made a snap election necessary to avert a political crisis.

The Sarawak state election, on the other hand, was already long due but was held off earlier due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the proclamation of emergency.

Things are different in Johor. The state government is functioning with little danger of it falling or the likelihood of any government state assemblyperson withdrawing his support or holding the state government hostage.

The state is in the steady and able hands of the present Menteri Besar Hasni Mohamad. He has provided equal allocation even to the opposition reps. He is in stark contrast with his earlier two predecessors who were not only ineffective but also controversial. In fact, it is said that they both did not endear well with the palace.

The Johor Civil Service, the backbone of the state administration is functioning well and normal, unlike during the short period when Harapan was the state government.

The opposition Harapan is still smarting from its spectacular fall and has yet to recover from the Tanjung Piai by-election annihilation. After defeats in Malacca and Sarawak, it is not far-fetched to say that Harapan is at the lowest in Johor.

Things have changed since 2018 and support for Harapan has dropped. This is a fact recognised by the coalition in Johor, notwithstanding Harapan’s overt bravado.

It is Harapan that is vehemently objecting and calling on the menteri besar not to call for a snap election, and understandably so. In a roundabout way, Harapan is also supporting the menteri besar in contrast to the Umno few calling for a snap election.

Also, it is unlikely Bersatu and PAS, both part of the ruling state government, will want to push for a state election but ride out the full term.

In all these, it must be recognised that unlike other states, the sultan takes very keen interest in how the state is managed and functions. He keeps a close watch on the assemblypersons and has little patience for political shenanigans. Also, it is said the relationship between the menteri besar is very good.

The menteri besar should just ignore the voices of Umno’s out of office politicians egging for a state election for their own agenda. Other than these politicians, no one really wants a snap election - be it Umno, Bersatu, PAS or even Harapan and let alone the people.

The present state government should continue its full term. Why call for a snap election when GE15 is not too far away?

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.