Muhyiddin says Perikatan may not form Johor govt, hopes to win enough seats for checks and balances

JOHOR BAHRU, July 8 — Perikatan Nasional (PN) may not be able to form the Johor government after the state election, but the coalition hopes to win enough seats to provide effective checks and balances. 

According to a Free Malaysia Today (FMT) report, PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin acknowledged the possibility while urging voters to support candidates who could ensure greater accountability in the state legislative assembly.

“Even if we are unable to form the government, we still need enough seats so that we can serve as the opposition and carry out checks and balances,” he was quoted as saying at the Bersatu Demi Johor rally in Parit Raja last night.

Muhyiddin said the state government must explain how public funds were spent and should not be allowed to act without scrutiny.

He said voters should use the state election to choose representatives who could benefit Johor while ensuring the government remained accountable.

The Pagoh MP also highlighted the rising cost of living as one of the biggest challenges facing Malaysians, saying many households were struggling as incomes failed to keep pace with rising prices.

“Many people are still struggling to make ends meet. Their incomes are no longer keeping pace with the rising cost of living and increasing prices of goods,” he was quoted as saying.

The Parit Raja state seat is seeing a three-cornered contest involving PN’s Maliki Rapiee, Barisan Nasional’s Nor Rashidah Ramli and Pakatan Harapan’s Shazwan Zdainal.

Polling for the Johor state election is scheduled for July 11, while early voting was held yesterday.