Johor election true battleground for Pejuang to test their strength, says Mukhriz

BATU PAHAT - While Pejuang aspires to win as many seats in the Johor election with hopes of forming the state government, its foray into the state election also aims to gauge the party’s support and strength at the grassroots level, said Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.

However, Mukhriz, who is Pejuang’s president, stressed that the party’s entry into the election is not to split the votes among the opposition parties but he acknowledged it could be a possibility.

“There are critics out there saying Pejuang coming into the election will split the votes for the opposition. It is really ironic because when we were in Bersatu, our contribution to PH (Pakatan Harapan) was never acknowledged.

“I think it may split votes for the opposition but I think it is important to participate in the state election to establish how much support Pejuang has.

“Of course, you do not go into an election just to test but to win and form the government but at the same time, yes, we also can't really gauge 100 per cent how much support we have but we look at all kinds of studies, including the 'Tun factor' and when Bersatu was with PH.

“It is an opportunity to see how much support we have but our intention is not to do just that or to purposely try to split opposition votes by participating in elections,’’ he said to reporters after a walkabout in Rengit town.

The “Tun” factor refers to Pejuang chairman and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who the party believed as the most prominent and credible Malay statesmen that have led and can lead the country, again.

Mukhriz is confident that the “Tun” factor will rally substantial support for the party and even stated that there are people in the southern state who yearns for the “good old days” under Dr Mahathir’s previous administration.

“When we passed our fliers to people and they see Dr Mahathir, they go ‘oh this is Tun’s party?’.

“So Tun still has that pulled factor. There are even those who came up to us and say that they remember the good old days under Tun,’’ said Mukhriz, referring to his father, Dr Mahathir.

Pejaung was registered last year in July.

They did not field any candidates during the Melaka state election last year in November but now has chosen to field candidates in 42 out of 56 state seats in the Johor state elections.

While Pejuang’s overall party mantra is to fight against corruption, Mukhriz stated that the party will also provide solutions on how best to addressed economic issues in the southern state.

These solutions will also be addressed by Dr Mahathir through his writings throughout the election period, said Mukhriz.

Hospitalised previously due to a health condition, Dr Mahathir has since assured his health is improving but said that it is unlikely for him to physically join the election campaign efforts.

The Election Commission has set March 8 as early polling while March 12 as polling day for the Johor state election.