No PN meeting on Johor polls but Bersatu won’t wait, says Peja

PETALING JAYA: Bersatu has started coordinating its campaign for the state election in Johor with its allies in Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat (IPR) although PN has yet to call for a meeting to discuss the July 11 polls.

Bersatu vice-president Ahmad Faizal Azumu took a swipe at PN chairman Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar for failing to call for such a meeting, though more than two weeks had passed since the Johor assembly was dissolved.

Faizal, also known as Peja, said Bersatu could not afford to wait for PAS’s signal before making preparations as that would benefit its rivals, Berita Harian reported.

“Bersatu has already mobilised its machinery on the ground. In fact, secretary-general Azmin Ali has started touring the whole of Johor and Negeri Sembilan.

“We are moving with other components (in PN and IPR). If PN still wants to dither and give its rivals the advantage, that’s up to them. But (Bersatu) cannot afford to wait for others,” said the former Perak menteri besar.

Faizal added that Bersatu had started holding talks with Muda and Pejuang.

PN’s most dominant party, PAS, ended its political cooperation with Bersatu last week, leaving the coalition’s status in limbo.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang later announced that Parti Wawasan Negara, led by former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin, would be allowed to contest under the PN banner in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan polls.

The Johor election is fixed for July 11 while Negeri Sembilan’s election will be held on Aug 1.