JOHOR BARU: Amid the dispute over the Johor Baru PKR division polls results, a Barisan Nasional leader here has voiced support for the party’s newly appointed division chief Mohamad Taufiq Ismail.
Johor Baru Barisan chairman Datuk Yahya Jaafar said Mohamad Taufiq has a better relationship with Barisan and was easier to reach out to compared to his predecessor, Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
“I have known Taufiq for a very long time, and I feel that he is easier to engage with.
“I think that Mohamad Taufiq is a suitable person to replace the current MP,
“He (Mohamad Taufiq) called me after winning the division chief post and has agreed to have a meeting soon,” he told reporters during the opening ceremony of the PGB experience gallery here on Sunday (April 27).
Yahya, who is also the Johor Baru Umno division chief, said this in response to media questions about the recent Johor Baru PKR division election, which saw Akmal losing to Mohamad Taufiq.
Akmal had said that he would appeal the result, claiming irregularities.
On talks of the Johor Baru parliamentary seat to be given to Barisan, Yahya said those were just speculation.
“I did not hear anything about this. There were talks of someone else eyeing the Pasir Gudang parliamentary seat, but so far, I have not heard anything about Johor Baru.
“If there is such an agreement to swap the parliamentary seat, I, as the Barisan Nasional chairman, have yet to be informed,” he said.
He added that if Barisan and Pakatan Harapan were to contest as a team in the next general election and the seats remain with PKR, he has no issue.
“We will comply and respect the party’s decision, and we will help, but it will be easier for us to work together if the candidate is someone like Taufiq,” he said.
Akmal, who is also Deputy Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, had failed to retain his position as the Johor Baru PKR branch chief in the recent party polls.
Akmal garnered 587 votes, losing to his challenger, Mohamad Taufiq, who secured 709 votes.
