Court Cluster Argument For Johor Snap Polls Stale Puad Tells Bersatu

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Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi said it was obvious Bersatu did not have any concrete reasons to oppose the state elections. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: An Umno Supreme Council member has taken a swipe at Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan for his comment that the Johor state election was pushed by members of the “court cluster” in Umno to stay in power and divert attention from their cases.
In a statement shared with FMT, Puad Zarkashi said his party pushed for the snap polls so that it could receive a fresh mandate from Johoreans to form a strong and stable government that would benefit them.
“Umno does not intend to form a government using a ‘Sheraton Move’ or hold on to power through an emergency declaration and suspension of Parliament.
“We want to let the people choose a government that has a strong, stable majority that could do more for their wellbeing,” he said.

Puad lambasted Wan Saiful’s association of the snap election with the “court cluster” members like party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former prime minister Najib Razak, calling this a “stale argument”.
“This shows that Wan Saiful and Bersatu do not have any concrete reasons to oppose the state elections.”
The Johor state assembly was dissolved yesterday after weeks of speculation and calls from Umno leaders to hold fresh polls. Elections must be held within 60 days of the dissolution, which means polls must take place on or before March 23.
The state elections were called weeks after the death of Bersatu’s Kempas assemblyman Osman Sapian last month, which reduced the majority of the BN-led state government to only one seat.
Johor menteri besar Hasni Mohammad said his slim majority in the state assembly meant the government was operating ”thanks to the courtesy of the opposition” and had prompted him to seek a fresh mandate from the people. - FMT

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