I AGREE with Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) information chief Datuk Seri Azmin Ali that Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi should form a unity government in Johor if Barisan Nasional (BN) wins the Mahkota by-election on Sept 28.

It is strange that UMNO wants the support of all the fraternal political parties in the unity government at the Federal level but not willing to share political power in Johor.

Presently, BN has 39 seats in the Johor state assembly supported by Pakatan Harapan (PH) which holds 12 seats.

Unfortunately, while Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim lauds of the unity government at the Federal level, it is not understandable why BN or UMNO is unwilling to share political power in Johor.

In the run-up to the Mahkota by-election, PH component political parties must exact a promise from BN to share political power in Johor. The political situation cannot be left in abeyance for too long.

These PH component parties must ensure that BN doesn’t get away with their support without giving back something in return in Johor.

BN or UMNO leaders must remember that without the support of the PH components parties, BN would not have gained 38 state seats in the last state elections.

‘Punish selfish UMNO, BN’

This is the biggest paradox of the present PH-led coalition with BN as component coalition. The concept of unity government seems applicable at the federal level but not to the states particularly Johor.

BN should not be selfish and self-centred in terms of not sharing political power in the state.

If BN or UMNO is not willing to share political power in the state with DAP, PKR and Amanah, then these parties should withdraw their support to BN in the coming Mahkota by-election.

While UMNO immensely benefits from being part of the unity government at the Federal level with plum ministerial posts and perks, why isn’t the party willing to share political power with PH coalition at the Johor state level?

If the PH political parties such as PKR, DAP and Amanah have any dignity or self-respect, they should not support the BN coalition in the Mahkota by-election without BN or UMNO promising inclusive politics in the Johor state government.

BN or UMNO leaders must explain the paradox of the unity government at the Federal level but not in the state of Johor.

Why is UMNO given preferential treatment especially when Malay support for the political party is at its historic lowest?

The Mahkota by-election should set the record straight by ensuring that BN or UMNO does not get away with not sharing political power in Johor. - Sept 19, 2024

Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.

https://focusmalaysia.my/the-irony-of-bn-hesitating-to-share-political-power-in-johor-with-ph-component-parties/