JOHOR BARU: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has not discounted the possibility of calling for a snap general election if cracks continue to form within the unity government.
The Pakatan Harapan chairman and PKR president said he has been hearing a lot of talk on the ground.
“At the moment, the relationship at the federal level is cordial.
“But if they decide to go against the agreements, then there will be straight fights not only in Johor,” he said, also mentioning states like Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Pahang and Penang.
Following Barisan Nasional’s announcement that it will contest all 56 seats in the upcoming Johor polls, Pakatan said it is prepared to contest all 36 seats in Negri Sembilan.
Pakatan deputy chairman Anthony Loke, who made the suggestion, said once Johor dissolves its state assembly, Negri Sembilan should dissolve its state assembly the following day.
Johor Pakatan chief Aminolhuda Hassan said now that Barisan had made its stand to contest all 56 seats, they will also do the same.
“Since Barisan has already announced their intention, we in Pakatan will also take a similar stance,” he said.
In his keynote address at the Pakatan national convention here, Anwar said he will meet with the Pakatan leadership to discuss the matter and if need be a snap election will be called.
“We will not be threatened but if they want to negotiate in a good way, we are willing,” Anwar said.
Stressing on the importance of political stability for a better government, Anwar hit out at certain state governments for giving out handouts just before the elections.
He said that since taking over in 2023, the unity government has been handing out assistance to the people, including Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah.
“We are unlike certain states that only give handouts when elections are near,” he said.
At a separate event, Anwar said that despite being prepared to contest solo in the upcoming state election, he was willing to give negotiations one last chance.
Anwar said he intends to meet Barisan chairman and Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in an attempt to avoid clashes in the upcoming state polls.
“I am still hopeful. Although an announcement has been made, I still have hope.
“I will meet the Umno president, and I will say, let’s discuss things properly, what is there to fight over?
“When was there any mistake on our part? When have we not helped? I do not care (which party), I help everyone.
“If there is competition at the grassroots level, it will lead to quarrels. So let us find a better way. What is important is the effort to help the people,” he said at a meet-the-people session at Taman Desa Mutiara People’s Housing Project.
On another matter, Anwar said he had not been following developments involving former PKR leaders Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad’s takeover of Parti Bersama Malaysia.
“I have not followed it yet,” he said briefly.
Former PKR deputy president Rafizi and former vice-president Nik Nazmi officially announced they were leaving PKR to join Parti Bersama Malaysia.
The two former ministers had also said that their respective parliamentary seats of Pandan and Setiawangsa would be vacated with effect from today.
