KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 ― Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders are confident that DAP’s Lim Kit Siang will not achieve his dream of toppling their administration in the next federal polls, saying the opposition’s Pakatan Harapan pact is still to weak to rule.
Leaders from the state chapters of BN members Umno, MCA and MIC said although the opposition currently occupies 18 seats in the 56-seat Johor assembly, its components are still in disarray and are yet to find a unified voice.
“With BN led by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin here, it's difficult for them to get more than 18 seats and I am confident of that,” Pasir Raja state assemblyman Datuk Dr Adham Baba said.
He said although newly-formed, Pakatan Harapan already has factions and its members are “always at loggerheads” with one another.
“Recently in Penang for example, Lim Guan Eng who is the chief minister there, said he would only recognise the PKR leadership led by his deputy. So what is strong in the opposition? Where is the unity?
“Johor people are a united lot and they need a united party, not one that has unsettled issues,” Dr Adham told the Malay Mail Online when contacted.
He also claimed that the opposition’s Johor elected representatives have not done much for their respective constituencies.
Kit Siang, he alleged, hardly visits his constituency in Gelang Patah.
“So how can be be so sure about ruling Johor?” Dr Adham asked.
Pasir Gudang MCA Youth chief Cia Cow Hui agreed, alleging although it has been over two years since Election 2013, those who won seats in Johor have not served their voters well.
“No, an opposition takeover can never happen here,” he said. Firstly, the DAP already took many state seats in Johor, but in the last two to three years, they didn't do anything… what can they give to the people now?
“Secondly, the state government is very good. They carry out many projects for the people and they work to bring in many foreign direct investments (FDI). You can see the amount invested here is the highest in the country,” he added.
Cia also agreed with Dr Adham that Kit Siang is hardly present in Gelang Patah, even alleging that some voters there have complained about their absent MP.
State MIC president Datuk M. Asojan pointed out that under BN’s rule, Johor has flourished economically.
He noted that the state has recorded more tourist arrivals in recent years, thanks to improvements in public services and more development projects..
According to a Bernama report, Johor attracted over 20,979 tourists last year, with 80 per cent from neighbouring Singapore.
The Indian community under BN has also benefitted, Asojan added, noting that allocations for the community in the state budget were increased from RM4 million last year to RM6 million this year.
“So my question is, what are the weaknesses in the present state government that he (Kit Siang) thinks he can take over Johor?” he asked.
In a recent statement, Kit Siang said Johor will head the list of states that Pakatan Harapan is gunning to rule after the next federal polls, adding that the newly-formed pact hopes to pick up from where the now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat (PR) left off after Election 2013.
PR ventured into Umno's Johor fortress in Election 2013, pitting many of its top leaders, including Kit Siang, against seasoned politicians from the ruling pact.
The strategy proved successful and the pact managed to triple its state assembly representation from just six seats to the present 18, one seat short of denying BN its two-thirds majority in the House.
Since then, however, PR has been wracked by internal troubles, leading to its dissolution earlier this year over a fallout between DAP and PAS.
But according to Kit Siang, Pakatan Harapan may be the opposition's best bet yet, and could go as far as toppling the BN government in Johor when polls are called by 2018.
