JOHOR BAHRU - Johor could regress in various aspects, including its economy, social development, and Islamic teachings, if it were to adopt Pas' Islamic governance model.
Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed asserted that the Pas-style Islamic framework was ill-suited for Johor.
"In brief, if we were to adopt the Pas-style Islamic model akin to the governments of Iran and the Taliban, Johor's progress in terms of its economy, development, social aspects, and Islamic teachings would likely regress," he added.
In regards to religious education, the religious schools in Johor were considerably more advanced than the Islamic education system in Kelantan, largely due to efficient management by the Johor Islamic Religious Council and well-maintained infrastructure facilities, Nur Jazlan said.
"In terms of the economy, to put it briefly, Johor's status as the southern gateway to the nation's development is widely recognised," he stated in a Facebook post uploaded on Friday.
The Pulai Umno chief said that the Umno-led state government has been actively implementing various progress and development projects to enhance the well-being of the public, in contrast to Kelantan, which faces challenges in providing basic facilities.
"Kelantan has been under the rule of the Islamic party for over 30 years. What significant progress can they take pride in? The persistent issue of addressing the basic needs of the public remains unsolved. Why talk about ambitious economic ventures and state investments?" "Many individuals from Kelantan and Terengganu migrate to Johor in search of livelihoods due to the broader job opportunities, thanks to the state's economic advancements, which are adjacent to Singapore.
"If these individuals had not left Kelantan, what job opportunities would the Pas government have provided, especially considering its low economic development and GDP compared to other states in the nation?" he asked.
The Deputy Speaker of Dewan Negara added that the Johor "red and blue" wave would counter the "green wave" promoted by Pas.
"Since the previous Johor state election, Pas's efforts to introduce their 'green wave' have been quelled by the Johor 'red and blue' wave. The Johor public will not tolerate Pas's stagnant politics veiled under the guise of religion." "I am confident that voters in Simpang Jeram and the Pulai Parliament will once again express their disapproval of the political dogma espoused by Pas," he affirmed.