Zahid slams Nga for criticising EC over separate Johor, NS polls

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has hit out at Cabinet colleague Nga Kor Ming after the DAP leader criticised the Election Commission for not deciding to hold the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections simultaneously.

Zahid defended the EC, saying its authority to decide on holding the two state elections separately should not be questioned, especially by a government minister.

“No individual should question the EC’s authority, especially a Cabinet minister who is also a senior leader in a party that is part of the government,” the deputy prime minister said at a press conference here today.

Yesterday, the EC announced that the Johor state election will be held on July 11, and the Negeri Sembilan polls on Aug 1.

This was criticised by Muda as well as Nga, the DAP deputy chairman, who said the two state elections should be held concurrently and that the EC chairman “must be held accountable”.

Nga, the housing and local government minister, also erroneously claimed that both state assemblies were dissolved on the same day.

The Johor assembly was dissolved on June 1, and the Negeri Sembilan assembly four days later.

‘We agreed to back Aminuddin till end of term’

Zahid denied that Umno had betrayed Pakatan Harapan in Negeri Sembilan, pointing out that the party eventually ordered its 14 assemblymen to continue backing menteri besar Aminuddin Harun’s administration despite initially retracting their support.

The Barisan Nasional chairman said Umno had agreed to back Aminuddin until the end of his term, but it was his right to seek the state assembly’s dissolution and call for fresh polls.

“I don’t think there’s any betrayal,” he said.

Zahid also dismissed criticism from DAP Youth chief Woo Kah Leong, who labelled Umno as being hypocritical in its approach to its cooperation with PH.

He reminded Woo and other unity government leaders to respect their allies. “Political partners should look after the feelings of their allies. They should watch their tongue,” he said.