PETALING JAYA: Amanah's threat to withdraw support for bipartisan cooperation between Pakatan Harapan and the government is why the general election and the Johor state election should be held soon, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The Umno vice-president said the elections should be held soon to avoid the government from having to rely on the Opposition’s support to continue ruling.
"Because of such threats, the state election and general election should be held immediately.
"No government can be threatened in such a way at any time and in any situation," said Khaled in a Facebook post on Sunday (Jan 16) afternoon.
Khaled was responding to Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) deputy president Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, who on Saturday (Jan 15) threatened to withdraw support for Ismail Sabri if state polls were called in Johor.
Salahuddin had told The Star that he would not hesitate to withdraw his support for the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on bipartisan cooperation between Pakatan Harapan and the government if the state election were to be held.
Khaled then criticised Salahuddin for issuing threats against the Johor state government.
He said calling for the state election was the prerogative of the state government and Istana Johor.
"Any threats by Pakatan will not be a deciding factor in dissolving the state assembly.
"If Pakatan retracts its support from the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Barisan Nasional will be prepared to face the general election and form the new government without Pakatan's support, god-willing," said Khaled.
He said it was the responsibility of the state government to return the mandate to Johoreans, as the present state government was in an unstable position.
If the state election were to be called, Khaled assured that government machinery and welfare aid would continue to be distributed as usual.
"It is an issue when the government is weak and unstable. Efforts to aid the people and administer the state will be affected," added Khaled.
Khaled then chided Salahuddin, saying that the reason why he was hesitant for a state election was because Amanah was afraid to be defeated in the polls.
"Pakatan's defeats in the Melaka and Sarawak elections are haunting it," added Khaled.
In the Melaka and Sarawak elections last year, PKR and Amanah lost all the seats they contested.
DAP, on the other hand, won two seats in the Sarawak election and only four seats in the Melaka state election.
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