"You're already in power, so just do it"- Tuan Ibrahim tells PKR on Johor campaign promises

MERSING – Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has criticised PKR for campaigning in the Johor state election with state development promises, arguing that the party already has the authority to deliver them as part of the federal government.

Speaking at the Pas Ceramah Mega in Dataran Meding Kanan, Tuan Ibrahim questioned why PKR continued to campaign on future pledges despite leading the federal administration.

“You are already the government, so just do it. Why are you still making promises? You keep saying, ‘If you give us the mandate, we will do this.’ But you’ve already won. You’re already governing and in power,” he spoke to the crowd late last night. 

Taking aim at PKR, he questioned its continued use of reform rhetoric despite leading the federal administration.

“It’s like PKR supporters and leaders when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrives, it’s always ‘reformasi, reformasi’. What reformasi? You’re already ministers, so just get on with it. 

“We make promises when we are not in power because, if we are given power, we will carry them out. But they are already in power,” he said, stating that election promises are meant for parties seeking power, not those already in government.

He also urged Johor voters to embrace political change, arguing that the state should follow the path taken by others that have experienced changes in government.

“God willing, Johor also needs change, just as other states have gone through change,” he said.

Drawing comparisons with political developments abroad, Tuan Ibrahim said long-serving ruling parties eventually lose public support.

“If you look at long-established political parties in countries like Japan, such as the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and also in Indonesia, these old parties eventually decline over time. 

“Umno actually lost in the 14th General Election. At one point, it was left governing only two states, Perlis and Pahang,” he said. 

However, despite criticising Pakatan Harapan over its campaign messaging, Tuan Ibrahim acknowledged Pas' past cooperation with Barisan Nasional (BN) to safeguard Malay political interests - even though BN is now part of the same federal unity government led by Pakatan Harapan.

Citing the Cameron Highlands by-election, he said Pas had backed BN to ensure the coalition's victory.

"We saw the need to preserve Malay political power. During by-elections, we helped BN. For example, in the Cameron Highlands by-election, we supported BN," he said.

It has been 17 days since Nomination Day for the Johor state election, with political parties and coalitions intensifying their campaigns across the state ahead of polling day.

However, amid the flurry of ceramahs (talks), walkabouts and manifesto pledges, a recurring sentiment has emerged among some voters: frustration that much of the campaign discourse has centred on federal issues, national political rivalries and controversies rather than the day-to-day concerns affecting Johoreans.

A quick survey by Sinar Daily saw some voters have questioned whether some candidates are sufficiently attuned to local issues, arguing that discussions on matters such as infrastructure, cost of living, employment opportunities, flood mitigation and public services have often been overshadowed by national narratives.

Others expressed concern that candidates perceived to be prioritising national political agendas over constituency-specific needs could struggle to effectively represent local communities if elected, saying Johor requires representatives who remain engaged with issues on the ground beyond the election campaign.