JOHOR BAHRU – Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Puteri Wangsa state seat Dr Maszlee Malik has questioned the rationale behind holding the Johor state election while the people continue to grapple with the rising cost of living.
He said the current situation called for greater focus on economic recovery and improving public welfare, rather than holding an election solely to consolidate political power.
"What is the justification? What is the necessity when people are struggling with their daily lives, while the country is working hard to grow the economy and safeguard the people's welfare?
"Suddenly, an election is called simply to gain total control, as though the existing mandate given by the people is not enough," he said during the Johor State Election Dialogue at Permata Sari Auditorium, RTM, on Tuesday.
Maszlee also claimed that the people were being treated as pawns in political manoeuvring, particularly following allegations linking a landslide election victory to the release of a certain individual from prison.
He said the people of Johor should not be used as tools to serve the political interests of any group.
"People say we are merely pawns on a chessboard, used only to secure the release of someone from prison.
"Instead, the people want stability. They want a better life, not politics driven by the ambitions of a small group seeking greater power," he said.
Maszlee reiterated that the strong working relationship between the federal and Johor governments should be fully utilised to continue development efforts until the end of the current administration's term.
He said many federal initiatives brought into Johor would benefit the people if both governments remained aligned in implementing development plans.
He added that Johoreans were not easily misled and would exercise their democratic rights on polling day to make their voices heard.