KOTA TINGGI: Having separate dates for the Johor and Negri Sembilan state elections does not give an edge to Barisan Nasional against Pakatan Harapan, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The Umno vice-president said Barisan and its component parties need to depend on their own strength to get the rakyat’s mandate.
“Barisan and Umno are ready to face any election.
“The question of why the Johor and Negri Sembilan state polls are held does not arise, as this is decided by the Election Commission (EC).
“When the Johor state legislative assembly was dissolved, we did not even know Negri Sembilan would dissolve and hold a state election,” he told reporters after launching the Jiwa Murni programme at SK Johor Kampong here on Saturday (June 13).
He was asked to comment on EC’s announcement that the polling day for the Johor state election was set on July 11 while the Negri Sembilan’s was set on Aug 1.
Nomination day for the Johor state election will take place on June 27, with early voting on July 7.
As for Negri Sembilan, nominations are on July 18 with early voting on July 28.
Khaled also said new political parties and electoral pacts are welcome to participate in the upcoming state election in the spirit of democracy.
“What the rakyat needs to do is be smart and rational in their choices and decide which party can represent them for the better,” said Khaled, who is also Defence Minister and Kota Tinggi MP.
When asked about claims that Johor Barisan chairman Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi’s remarks about refusing to sit with DAP were racist, Khaled stressed that DAP is a party, not a race.
“In Barisan itself, we have a component party representing the Chinese community even from before, and they are our partners.
“There is no issue of racism towards the Chinese,” he said.
