Johor Bersatu says no copycat act against Umno after Perak ‘betrayal’

Bersatu in Johor has dismissed talk that it could replicate Umno’s act in Perak by moving a confidence motion on Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad.

Johor Bersatu’s election chief Abdul Latiff Ahmad also dismissed talk that the party could take such “revenge” on Umno, which engineered the ouster of Ahmad Faizal Azumu as Perak menteri besar on Friday.

Bersatu, which held the post of Johor MB when the party was part of the 22-month-old Pakatan Harapan government, had subsequently switched support to Umno’s Hasni.

Hasni rules with a two-seat majority, with support from 29 of the 56 assemblymen.

Thirteen of the 29 assemblymen – almost half of the ruling bloc in Johor – are from Bersatu (12) and PAS (one).

“If PN decides not to support it and the state budget is not passed, it could turn into a no-confidence vote against the menteri besar.”

Both parties are components of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, and have openly opposed Perak Umno’s move to oust Faizal who was due to table the state budget.

Latiff said a similar move in Johor could cost Umno.

“If PN decides not to support it and the state budget is not passed, it could turn into a no-confidence vote against the menteri besar,” Latiff told MalaysiaNow.

“For the sake of political stability, PN reps must be present to show their support,” the Mersing MP added.

In the Perak vote, a confidence motion moved by an Umno assemblyman saw Faizal opposed by 48 assemblymen from Umno and Pakatan Harapan.

This came as differences between him and Umno reached a peak over the appointments of key administrative officers, including his political secretary.

Faizal, who officially resigned yesterday, only obtained 10 votes from fellow reps in Bersatu, PAS and two independents. The sole Umno man who abstained was Aznel Ibrahim, whom Faizal appointed as his political secretary.

Yesterday, Bersatu’s Kempas assemblyman and former Johor MB Osman Sapian said he would not rule out a “revenge act” in the state assembly.

“I was saddened and shocked by the news (of Faizal’s ouster), when we are together in the eight-month-old federal and state governments,” he was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia, adding that Bersatu representatives in the Johor state assembly could copy the act.