Johor polls outcome won’t define Bersatu’s future, says leader

PETALING JAYA: The outcome of the Johor election on July 11 will not define Bersatu’s future as voting patterns in state polls differ from general elections, says a party leader.

Bersatu Youth information chief Harris Idaham Rashid said previous elections had shown that the party struggles in state elections, but performs well when it comes to nationwide polls.

As such, he rejected the notion that the results of the Johor polls would determine whether Bersatu still attracts voters, Utusan Malaysia reported.

“Bersatu has been in the Malaysian political arena for 10 years and has even held the prime minister’s post,” he said.

Harris also expressed confidence that Bersatu would prove its relevance in the Johor polls, saying the party had its own segment of committed voters.

He was responding to suspended Bersatu MP Rosol Wahid, who reportedly said the party “no longer has a future”, especially in facing the next general election.

Bersatu is contesting 16 seats in Johor under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) banner, in its first election outing since the end of its political cooperation with PAS.

PAS is also contesting under the PN banner, vying for 11 seats. The Islamic party is not campaigning for Bersatu despite being coalition partners.