‘Competing in the daytime but friends at night’, Mat Sabu says Pakatan‑BN clash confined to Johor polls

JOHOR BAHRU, June 27 — The contest between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) in the Johor state election does not in any way disrupt the administration of the federal unity government, said Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.

He said that since the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly, relations and duties, particularly those involving Cabinet ministers from both parties, have continued smoothly.

The Amanah president said that although both sides have their own strategies and calculations at the state level to win the election, this does not affect stability at the federal level.

“Yes, it does not disrupt. For example, in Cabinet meetings, everything runs smoothly. Our interactions are also fine. If there are good matters, we support each other; we also advise one another. Everything is fine.

“Here (in Johor) we are contesting (against BN), but at the federal level, no. That is Malaysian politics at the moment – it is a bit unusual. We hope after the election we can find the best way forward because now we are competing in the daytime but friends at night,” he told reporters here today.

Mohamad Sabu was met after accompanying the PH candidate for the Permas seat, Sharon Teo, to the nomination centre for the Johor state election at Dewan Muafakat, Taman Mawar here.

Teo is in a four-cornered fight against Perikatan Nasional candidate T. Vela, Dr Zamil Najwah of Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) and the incumbent Baharudin Mohamed Taib (BN).

Commenting on a statement by Amanah Pasir Gudang calling for a boycott of Teo’s candidacy and campaign in Permas, Mohamad Sabu said the party’s campaign machinery to secure victory for their candidate is proceeding as normal.

“No problem. It’s normal that in any party, when a decision is made, there will be some individuals who disagree. There is no boycott. In fact, today I am happy to see many supporters marching together to send our candidate to the nomination centre,” he said.

The Johor State Legislative Assembly, which has 56 seats, was dissolved on June 1, with the Election Commission (EC) setting July 7 for early voting and July 11 as polling day.

According to EC statistics, the election involves 2,727,926 registered voters, comprising 2,703,175 ordinary voters, 12,041 military personnel and spouses, and 12,710 police personnel and spouses.

For the latest updates on the 16th Johor state election, visit https://prn.bernama.com/johor/ — Bernama