Let’s fight BN together, Johor Bersatu man tells PH

(FMT) – A Johor Bersatu leader has mooted the formation of a grand coalition with Perikatan Nasional (PN) joining hands with Pakatan Harapan (PH), Pejuang, Muda and Warisan in facing the upcoming Johor state elections.

The Johor Bahru division’s deputy chief Razrul Anwar Rusli said all parties that oppose Barisan Nasional (BN) should gather under one banner, adding that this was a formula that worked in the last general election (GE14).

Sinar Harian quoted him as saying this grand coalition could be named Muafakat Rakyat Johor or Gabungan Rakyat Johor, akin to the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition formed ahead of the Sabah state polls in September 2020.

“Cooperation between these parties and comrades is the key to winning the Johor state elections,” he told the Malay daily.

“Or else, it would just be a waste because Umno will surely emerge the winner,” he said, adding that the idea of having Bersatu working with its former PH partners again was not impossible.

Earlier, an Amanah man urged PH to look beyond parties like Pejuang, Warisan and Muda in terms of cooperation, and extend its “big tent” to PN too in order to prevent a BN win in the upcoming Johor state elections.

Mazlan Aliman, a former Amanah central committee member, said PH and the other parties must forget its squabbles for the sake of the people’s interests.

The Johor state assembly was dissolved on Saturday after weeks of speculation amid calls from Umno leaders for fresh polls.

The Election Commission is scheduled to meet on Feb 9 to decide on the date for the state elections.