Pas directive to back BN will not affect ties in Johor

BATU PAHAT – Ties between Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and Pas in Johor remain intact despite Pas directing its members and supporters to vote for Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates in seats not contested by Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the 16th Johor state election.

Johor Bersatu deputy chairman Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon said the directive issued by the party’s central leadership would not affect their relationship, as cooperation at the state level remained strong.

“At the Johor level, our relationship with Pas is actually not that bad.

“When some leaders talk about restoring Pas-BN ties under Muafakat Nasional (MN), we in Johor Bersatu follow the decisions of the party’s central leadership.

“We regard MN as merely an NGO now, no longer a political coalition. So we are not overly concerned about the matter,” he told Sinar on Sunday.

Rashid said Johor Bersatu does not see the issue as something that warrants much attention, as the party’s focus is on ensuring seats contested by PN continue to be won by Malay candidates.

He said PN remains unaffected by the development because the coalition has its own narrative heading into the Johor polls.

“The cooperation between Umno and DAP remains an issue that PN will continue to raise with voters.

“When suggestions emerged for Pas to work with BN again, we in Bersatu revisited the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) issue and Umno’s cooperation with DAP, which ultimately became a point of judgment for the rakyat.

“So even without Pas, the Umno-DAP alliance at the federal level remains one of the issues that gives us an advantage in the PN campaign,” he said.

He added that Johor PN would not be swayed by the development, as the coalition remains focused on the aspirations of the people of Johor.

“We are not distracted by this issue because we are focused on the direction of Bangsa Johor.

“So, we all remain united under Bangsa Johor,” he said.