Khaled: Separate state polls offer no edge to BN

KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 — Barisan Nasional (BN) will have to depend on its own strength to win over voters, regardless of whether the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections are held separately or simultaneously, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said today.

Asked whether BN stood to gain any advantage from the staggered election schedule, Khaled said the coalition did not enjoy an edge over Pakatan Harapan (PH) or other political parties.

Instead, he said BN and its component parties would need to secure the people’s mandate through their own efforts.

“We do not depend on whether the elections are held together or not.

“As for why the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections are being held separately or otherwise, that is a question for the Election Commission (EC),” he told Utusan Malaysia today.

Khaled said Umno and BN had made preparations to face any election.

“When Johor dissolved its state assembly before this, there was no issue of holding the state election simultaneously with Negeri Sembilan.

“We ourselves did not know that Negeri Sembilan would dissolve and hold a state election,” he added.

Khaled, who is the defence minister, was speaking after officiating the Defence Ministry’s Program Jiwa Murni Madani at Sekolah Kebangsaan Johor Kampong in Kota Tinggi, Johor.

Election Commission chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun announced yesterday that Johor voters will head to the polls on July 11, with nomination day set for June 27 and early voting on July 7.

Negeri Sembilan will follow on August 1, with nominations scheduled for July 18 and early voting on July 28.