Pakatan keen to work with Muda and attract the young

JOHOR BARU: Johor Pakatan Harapan is trying to form a pact with the newly-registered Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) for the snap state polls.

The discussions between the two sides would include seat allocations with Muda, said state Opposition leader Aminolhuda Hassan.

“The outcome from the ongoing discussion will be made known soon,” said the Parti Amanah Negara chief who is also state Pakatan chairman.

Aminolhuda said Pakatan would be banking on its 22-month track record in the state government before the “Sheraton Move” led to its collapse.

“Hopefully, the rakyat can see what Pakatan was able to do in a short period of time, which was better than what Umno had done in more than 60 years,” he claimed.

Johor DAP vice-chairman Dr S. Ramakrishnan said that the state election was expected to be a crowded affair with many political parties possibly joining the fray.

“Multi-cornered fights will cause the votes to be split. This will not be an easy state election but Pakatan will do its best to hold on to the seats that it won in GE14,” he said.

Pakatan won 36 seats in GE14 but the exit of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, with eight seats, and defections from PKR saw it become the Opposition.

Ramakrishnan said he hopes Malaysians in Singapore would be allowed to cast their ballot at the Malaysian High Commission or do so via postal votes.

The Bekok assemblyman said no political party could afford to “relax”.

“I am sure voters will look at candidates more than the party that they represent,” he added.

Johor PKR deputy chairman Jimmy Puah Wee Tse said they would put the stress on local candidates, and would likely field more young and female candidates.

“PKR will be focusing on bread-and-butter issues especially the increase in the cost of living,” he added.

Puah, who is Bukit Batu assemblyman, said PKR would be drawing up creative strategies to attract the new Undi18 voters.

Prior to the dissolution, Pakatan had 27 seats comprising DAP (14), Amanah (six) and PKR (seven).