Muhyiddin shrugs off Pas snub, says Bersatu won’t force support in Johor polls

SHAH ALAM – Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has brushed aside Pas’ refusal to deploy its election machinery to assist Bersatu candidates in the Johor state election, saying support should be given willingly rather than by force.

Speaking after accompanying Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Dr Sahruddin Jamal to the Bukit Kepong nomination centre on Saturday, Muhyiddin said Bersatu respected Pas’ decision, even though cooperation and mutual support should be the coalition’s guiding principle.

“That is alright, I am not asking anyone to help. Whoever wants to help, can help.

“Although in principle PN should support one another, if there are partners who do not wish to help, we accept it,” he said when asked to comment on remarks by Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang.

On Thursday, Hadi said Pas would not deploy its election machinery for Bersatu candidates in the Johor polls, insisting the parties' separate campaigns were not a strategy to strengthen PN.

His remarks come two days after Hadi announced that Pas would not mobilise its election machinery to campaign for Bersatu candidates in the Johor state election.

Hadi had also dismissed suggestions that the separation of campaign operations between Pas and Bersatu was a political strategy to strengthen the PN ahead of the polls.

Pas Information Chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari later confirmed that the party had instructed its divisions and state constituency machinery in Bersatu-held seats to instead focus on constituencies contested by Pas and other PN component parties.

Asked whether Bersatu would still assist its PN allies despite Pas’ stance, Muhyiddin said the party remained open to helping whenever requested.

“If they want our support, we will help. Our practice and attitude remain open,” he said.

PN will see a three-cornered fight at Bukit Kepong, as Sahruddin faces Barisan Nasional's Ahmad Syarie Yusof and Pakatan Harapan's C. Subramani.