JOHOR BARU: The Johor state election will only be held after receiving the blessing from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, says Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
However, he said the state polls was not discussed during Umno’s hour-long audience with Sultan Ibrahim at Istana Besar yesterday.
“Beyond nostalgic factors, the meeting was a significant one in conjunction with Umno’s 80th anniversary.
“However, our meeting with Tuanku did not touch on election,” he said after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting.
The Umno president thanked the King and Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim for consenting to attend the party’s 80th anniversary celebration at Istana Besar.
Umno was founded at the palace on May 11, 1946.
Before the press conference began, Ahmad Zahid joked with the media and said: “I hereby announce that the Johor election will not be held tomorrow,” which invited laughter from those in the room.
Asked whether the matter was discussed at the supreme council meeting, he played it coy and did not give an outright answer.
“The meeting discussed many national issues,” he said without elaborating.
On the possibility of the state polls being held earlier than Melaka’s – whose term ends on Dec 30 this year – Ahmad Zahid reiterated that Umno will only decide on the matter after getting the blessing of Sultan Ibrahim, who is also the Johor Ruler.
Speculation is rife that the state polls could be held by October.
The current Johor State Legislative Assembly term ends automatically on April 21, 2027.
The 15th state polls was held on March 12, 2022, where Barisan Nasional secured 40 of the 56 seats, Pakatan Harapan won 12, Perikatan Nasional (three) and Muda took one.
