LEDANG — Pakatan Harapan (PH) Chairman Anwar Ibrahim has charged that the coalition was deliberately dragged into an early Johor state election by specific political factions attempting to regain leverage and secure a royal pardon for jailed former Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Addressing a political rally in Serom, the Prime Minister argued that the state polls were uncalled for, claiming rival factions triggered the election early simply because they felt powerful enough to return to office and force Najib’s release. Despite the premature timeline, Anwar stated that PH committed to the race to protect political stability and maintain critical coordination between the state and federal governments.
The claim highlights a widening rhetorical rift within the opposition ecosystem. Najib’s son, Nazifuddin, recently asserted that a decisive Barisan Nasional (BN) landslide victory in Johor would serve as a public mandate proving continued support for the former prime minister, accelerating momentum for a royal pardon. However, BN Chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi flatly dismissed the narrative, stating that Najib’s legal status is completely irrelevant to the Johor campaign. Zahid stressed that the authority to grant a pardon rests solely as an exclusive prerogative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Najib, 72, is currently serving a reduced six-year prison sentence for the SRC International case, which runs until August 23, 2028.
Anwar Issues Ultimatum on Corruption and Leadership
Shifting focus to national governance, Anwar issued a direct challenge regarding his tenure, declaring his absolute willingness to step down as prime minister if a successor demonstrates the capacity to do a better job of eradicating corruption and safeguarding public funds.
“If this country aims to be number one, it must be led by clean leaders and not thieves,” Anwar told the crowd, anchoring the Johor local election to his broader federal anti-graft mandate.
The Prime Minister also took aim at ethnically charged campaign strategies, castigating rival politicians who refuse to cooperate with DAP on racial grounds. Pointing out the logical inconsistency of the stance, Anwar questioned the hypocrisy of the attacks by noting, “Isn’t MCA a Chinese party?”
Logistical Challenges and Voter Turnout Risks
The strategic timing of the election also drew sharp criticism from the PH chairman. Anwar warned that scheduling the vote in the middle of the month introduces significant execution risks, creating an artificial barrier for out-of-state and overseas voters who must travel back to their home constituencies to cast ballots.
Past state polls have historically suffered from suppressed turnout due to the reluctance of overseas workers to make short-notice trips, a reality Anwar noted could skew the democratic outcome of the Johor race.
