Umno faction pushing for Johor polls ‘to put pressure on PM’

[superadmin]

PETALING JAYA: Early Johor state elections may be used to trigger a general election this year, according to political analyst Azmi Hassan, while another analyst, Awang Azman Pawi, is positive that a general election will be “done and dusted” by July.

Azmi, a former Universiti Teknologi Malaysia lecturer, said those in favour of an early general election are likely to go all out to press for Johor state elections soon as Barisan Nasional is likely to win more seats in the state.

They are aware that Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, an Umno vice-president, may only call for national elections in 2023, while he consolidates his power.

However, “the PM’s divided support and instability in Umno may see calls for a general election growing if BN does better in Johor,” he said.

The Johor state government, led by Barisan Nasional, has a majority of only one seat following the death of Kempas state assemblyman Osman Sapian of Bersatu in December.

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