KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional is capable of retaining Johor in the upcoming state election, says Umno information chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
Azalina, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), said she believed Barisan could form the next Johor government although the coalition's eventual seat tally will depend on the candidates fielded and voter turnout.
She also said the number of seats Barisan ultimately wins, whether more or fewer, is not the main issue, as what matters is that the coalition is given the mandate once again to govern Johor.
“I think it depends on the candidates. In Johor, people vote according to their constituencies. PAS is not contesting this time and is contesting for 11 seats only. In Malay-majority constituencies, it is essentially Pakatan Harapan (PH) against Barisan.
“I think we will have to see how things unfold. If a large number of outstation voters return to vote, that could make things more difficult.
“We can govern (form the government), but I do not know how many seats we will win,” she said in an interview on Monday (July 6).
The Election Commission (EC) has set July 11 and Aug 1 as polling days for the Johor and Negri Sembilan state elections respectively.
EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said nominations for the Johor state elections 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.
Azalina said Johor's electoral outcome should not be treated as a barometer for national politics, arguing that Negri Sembilan would be a more meaningful indicator because of the large number of seats held by Pakatan.
"I do not think you can treat Johor as the test case. Negri Sembilan is the real test case because PH holds many seats there.
"If they do not retain many of those seats, I do not know what the political reaction will be.
"But Johor is different and cannot compare Johor with Negri Sembilan," she said.
Responding to a question on whether a Barisan victory in the upcoming state elections would fuel perceptions that it could pave the way for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s release, Azalina dismissed the notion.
"I think the power to release someone from prison rests with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. It has nothing to do with politics. That is my view," she said.
