Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) is prepared to contest the upcoming Johor state election using its own party logo if it is unable to secure approval to use the Perikatan Nasional (PN) logo.
Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the matter would be discussed and decided by consensus during the PN Supreme Leadership Council meeting scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.
According to Muhyiddin, a final decision on whether Bersatu will contest under the PN banner or its own logo will only be made after discussions with the coalition’s top leadership.
“People have asked me what logo we will use. We want to use the PN logo, but how can we do that if the PN chairman does not sign the authorisation? The use of the PN logo requires an official mandate,” he said.
Muhyiddin made the remarks while addressing the launch of Bersatu’s machinery for the 16th Johor State Election in Bakri on Sunday night.
Among those present were Bersatu vice-presidents Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu and Datuk Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin, secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, and Johor Bersatu chairman Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal.
On June 16, Muhyiddin had stated that Bersatu would remain within Perikatan Nasional and intended to use the coalition’s logo in both the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections.
However, the following day, PAS leaders described the statement as premature.
PAS vice-president Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah reportedly said that the authorisation for the use of the PN logo must be signed by PN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and not by individual party presidents.
Meanwhile, Muhyiddin, who is also the Pagoh MP, stressed that Bersatu has a strong pool of candidates and should contest a larger number of seats if it hopes to form the next Johor state government.
He pointed out that Johor has 56 state seats and that Bersatu only secured victories in Bukit Kepong and Endau during the last state election, while PAS won the Maharani seat.
“If we only contest 10 seats, that will not be enough to form a government. To govern Johor, we need at least 29 seats,” he said.
Muhyiddin added that Bersatu must be ambitious in its electoral strategy and work towards winning enough seats to emerge as a viable contender for state administration in the upcoming polls.
