GE15: Salahuddin says all disputes within component parties in Johor Pakatan solved

JOHOR BARU, Nov 3 — Johor Pakatan Harapan chief Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub today said that all issues involving the coalition’s component parties have been resolved, with all focus now on the 15th general election (GE15).

He said the component parties involved understood the situation and resolved the matter for the sake of unity.

“On the issue regarding the Tanjung Piai parliamentary seat, involving Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) and the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda), the matter has been amicably resolved.

“Yes, initially there were disagreements on who had the right to contest in Tanjung Piai, but I consider it water under the bridge now,” Salahuddin told reporters after the Johor PH GE15 candidates’ introduction event at the Thistle Hotel Johor Baru here today.

Also present was Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong, state PKR chief Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, state Amanah chief Aminolhuda Hassan and Muda deputy state chief R. Sangaran.

Salahuddin, who is Amanah deputy president, was commenting on his party’s Johor chapter that had expressed disappointment last Monday over the PH leadership’s decision to cede the Tanjung Piai parliamentary seat to a Muda candidate.

Salahuddin said the issue had been resolved in an amicable manner between Amanah and Muda.

The Pulai incumbent MP and GE15 candidate said within PH, the state chapter will heed the coalition’s national leadership’s decision.

The Tanjung Piai seat was initially supposed to be contested by Amanah, however, it was later ceded to Muda to contest for GE15, as part of the Johor PH electoral pact.

Meanwhile, Salahuddin said that Johor PH was confident of not only retaining the seats it won in the previous national polls but also increasing its win in the southern state.

“We can win around 21 to 22 parliamentary seats in Johor, including tough seats such as Pengerang, Pontian, Tenggara and even Sembrong.

“This positive projection was based on the Johor state election in March where PH was able to see an increase of votes for our candidates in those parliamentary constituencies,” he said.