Johor Umno denies ‘secret pact’ with PN to form state govt

PETALING JAYA: Johor Umno has rejected an accusation by a former DAP assemblyman of a “tacit understanding” with Perikatan Nasional to form the next Johor state government.

Johor Umno secretary Abdul Halim Suleiman said Chew Chong Sin was trying to skew perceptions and influence voters, and divert attention away from DAP and Pakatan Harapan’s own problems with their candidates.

Halim said Barisan Nasional has had no negotiations with PN, and no parties outside of BN had a say in the lineup of candidates nominated today.

“Our candidates are running solo. No interference from parties outside BN. PN’s candidates are also running on the strength of their coalition,” he told FMT.

Johor Umno Youth chief Noor Azleen Ambros said the accusation showed that DAP lacked campaign material. “They have to make up things that don’t exist to draw public support,” he said.

The Umno leaders were responding to former Mengkibol assemblyman Chew Chong Sin who had called for voters to come out in full force on July 11 to prevent BN and PN from forming the next state government.

Chew claimed there was a “tacit understanding” between the two coalitions based on the 33 candidates PN fielded today, China Press reported.

Johor BN chairman Onn Hafiz Ghazi had previously said that BN would not form a coalition government with any other party after the election.