KLUANG: Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has brushed off a challenge by the Opposition that a unity government be formed in Johor should the coalition win the by-election in Mahkota.
“Saya tak kenal dialah (I do not know him),” he said when asked to comment on the challenge by Bersatu supreme council member Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.
The Deputy Prime Minister was speaking to reporters during a visit to Kem Mahkota here yesterday to check out the construction of a polyclinic.
Azmin had earlier challenged Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi to form a unity government if Barisan wins the by-election on Sept 28.
“Pakatan Harapan, PKR, DAP, Amanah supported Umno for the past two years and they got nothing. Where is the spirit of the unity government in Johor?” he said to reporters after giving a ceramah on Wednesday night.
Azmin said it was weird that there was no unity government in Johor and questioned whether the state government was truly united.
“That is why Amanah is also upset. They have been supporting him for the past two years and still cannot even have a village headman or councillor positions,” he added.
Barisan holds 40 seats in the Johor state assembly, comprising 33 from Umno, MCA (four) and MIC (three). Its Pakatan Harapan partners DAP has 10 seats and PKR and Amanah hold one seat each. However, both Barisan and Pakatan do not have an alliance or unity government in Johor.
Perikatan Nasional has three seats with two from Bersatu and one from PAS, while Muda has one seat.
Following a reshuffle of the Johor executive council in February this year, Johor Amanah chief Aminolhuda Hassan said that Pakatan hoped to be given local councillor and village chief positions after being left out in the top line-up.
