JOHOR BARU: Bersatu is heavily dependent on its Perikatan Nasional partner PAS in the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections, says Umno supreme council member Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed.
The Pulai Umno division chief said this was evident from PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor coming to campaign for Perikatan's candidates.
“This shows Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Perikatan chairman, has no more wow factor in his own state.
“Muhyiddin is no longer relevant in Johor as the people here rejected Bersatu and Perikatan in the Johor state election last year,” he said in a Facebook post on Thursday (Aug 31).
Nur Jazlan added that even if the Opposition coalition was depending on Johor Bersatu leaders, it would not bring Perikatan any benefits as they did not seem capable of even leading the campaigning for the by-elections.
“This is why Muhyiddin is riding on Hadi and Muhammad Sanusi's popularity and why Perikatan calls their wave 'green' despite the colour of their flag being dark blue.
“Just as in the six state elections (on Aug 12), there is nothing for Bersatu to be proud of. It does not have machinery and celebrity leaders like Muhammad Sanusi to depend on,” he added.
The Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state seats fell vacant following the passing of their elected representative Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub of Amanah on July 23.
Polling for both seats is on Sept 9.
Each will see a three-way fight involving Pakatan Harapan, Perikatan and an Independent. Both Pakatan candidates are from Amanah; Perikatan's Pulai candidate is from Bersatu while its man in Simpang Jeram is from PAS.
