MUAR - Pakatan Harapan (PH) Johor has openly endorsed Parti Ikatan Demokratik Malaysia (Muda)'s intention to run alone in the upcoming state elections.
According to its chairman, Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, Muda has its own reasons for not supporting PH in the state election this time, despite the fact that the party supported PH in the Johor state election and the 15th General Election (GE15).
"Perhaps Muda is conducting their own research, of course, as a political party, they have access to current trends and voter opinions.
"We respect Muda's decision to go it alone. But as someone who has been in the political field for nearly four decades, I feel that we will only succeed with strong cooperation," he remarked.
He said this at a public hearing after receiving 200 goats for the Korban and AqiqahRahmah programme at Econsave Muar Supermarket.
Muda said on Monday that the party will go solo in the next state elections.
This has increased the party's likelihood of clashing with PH, which works with BN, as well as Perikatan Nasional (PN), which includes Pas, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), and Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan).
Salahuddin, who is also the Deputy President of Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah), noted split votes won't be much or a problem for PH eventhough Muda has decided to run on its own due to the many beneficial programmes that have been implemented by the government.
"I don't think so, because PH, which has been in the Unity Government with Barisan Nasional (BN) for seven months, and we have implemented many programmes for the people, including the Rahmah initiative.
"In fact, the Unity Government led by the Prime Minister has made allocations without knowing the opposition's ideology or state of affairs."
"I think that is a factor for people to open their eyes to assess the extent to which the Madani Government puts the people first, regardless of ideology," he said.