Zahid downplays claims of BN-PAS-Wawasan cooperation in Johor polls
The BN chairman says that any talks between the parties, if they had taken place, were likely held among the lower ranks of the parties
BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi pointed out that the coalition had already announced candidates for all 56 state seats. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has played down allegations of cooperation with PAS and Parti Wawasan Negara in the Johor state election.
Zahid said any talks among the parties for working together, if they had taken place, were likely held among their lower ranks, Berita Harian reported.
“I have not heard anything about that (BN’s plans to cooperate with PAS and Wawasan).
“It may have been discussions held at the grassroots level,” he told reporters after a programme with the Benut BN election machinery in Simpang Renggam today.
He also pointed out that BN had already announced candidates for all 56 state seats.
“From the very beginning, (Johor BN chairman) Onn Hafiz Ghazi made it clear that we would contest on our own. That has been proven by the fact that BN is fielding candidates in all 56 state constituencies.
“None of our candidates is contesting under another party’s logo,” he said.
On Thursday, Wawasan president Hamzah Zainudin said his party would not field candidates in the state election.
However, he said, this did not mean the party would not support other candidates.
He said Wawasan would announce the names of “certain candidates” it would back after the Perikatan Nasional Supreme Council meets in the near future.
Hamzah also said the party would contest the Negeri Sembilan state election.
PAS has fielded a total of 11 candidates in the Johor polls and instructed its machinery to assist its own candidates and those of other PN component parties, except for Bersatu.
Bersatu has fielded 16 candidates contesting under the PN banner.
The other PN component parties contesting in the election are the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP), which is fielding candidates in five seats, and Pejuang, which is contesting one seat.
Earlier today, former DAP assemblyman Chew Chong Sin claimed there is a “tacit understanding” between BN and PN based on the 33 candidates PN fielded for the polls.
Zahid said any talks among the parties for working together, if they had taken place, were likely held among their lower ranks, Berita Harian reported.
“I have not heard anything about that (BN’s plans to cooperate with PAS and Wawasan).
“It may have been discussions held at the grassroots level,” he told reporters after a programme with the Benut BN election machinery in Simpang Renggam today.
He also pointed out that BN had already announced candidates for all 56 state seats.
“From the very beginning, (Johor BN chairman) Onn Hafiz Ghazi made it clear that we would contest on our own. That has been proven by the fact that BN is fielding candidates in all 56 state constituencies.
“None of our candidates is contesting under another party’s logo,” he said.
On Thursday, Wawasan president Hamzah Zainudin said his party would not field candidates in the state election.
However, he said, this did not mean the party would not support other candidates.
He said Wawasan would announce the names of “certain candidates” it would back after the Perikatan Nasional Supreme Council meets in the near future.
Hamzah also said the party would contest the Negeri Sembilan state election.
PAS has fielded a total of 11 candidates in the Johor polls and instructed its machinery to assist its own candidates and those of other PN component parties, except for Bersatu.
Bersatu has fielded 16 candidates contesting under the PN banner.
The other PN component parties contesting in the election are the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP), which is fielding candidates in five seats, and Pejuang, which is contesting one seat.
Earlier today, former DAP assemblyman Chew Chong Sin claimed there is a “tacit understanding” between BN and PN based on the 33 candidates PN fielded for the polls.
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