PASIR GUDANG – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim risks suffering a political blow if Pakatan Harapan (PH) is defeated in the 16th Johor state election, says Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim.
Hassan said the Johor election has effectively become a contest between two political commanders.
He described PH as fielding Anwar himself as its chief campaigner, while Barisan Nasional (BN) has put Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi at the forefront of its campaign.
"Anwar is the Prime Minister of the Federal Government, while Onn Hafiz is only the Menteri Besar of a state government.
"That is where Anwar's risk lies. If PH wins, Anwar remains Prime Minister, but the public would not find it surprising given that he has been actively campaigning almost every day during the Johor election.
"However, if Onn Hafiz, who is young enough to be considered Anwar's son and is still regarded as a young politician, manages to pull off an upset by winning the Johor election and forming the state government, the country's political landscape will change.
"Onn Hafiz will emerge as a young leader from Johor capable of advancing as a national leader.
"If he succeeds in the Johor election, he will become a new political star from the south and a potential future Prime Minister of Malaysia," he said in a statement on Sunday.
Hassan said the opposite would be true if PH were to lose the Johor polls.
He said such a defeat would deal a severe blow to Anwar's image as a political leader who was defeated by Onn Hafiz.
"A defeat would also tarnish the image of PH and Anwar as Prime Minister ahead of the 16th General Election, which is expected to be held soon.
"Losing the Johor election is therefore not an option for Anwar Ibrahim and PH.
"For that reason, over the next few days, PH leaders, members and supporters, who are said to number more than one million, must work hard to ensure the coalition wins. There is no other option," he said.