Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called on all parties to avoid reviving old and unrelated issues throughout the Johor state election campaign, stressing the need for a more mature and respectful political contest.
The Deputy Prime Minister said campaign focus should instead be placed on candidate strengths and policy offerings, especially as many competing parties are also working together at the federal level.
He noted that continuous attacks using past issues could create unnecessary tension among coalition partners who regularly meet in Cabinet discussions, and urged all sides to maintain harmony despite political differences.
Responding to claims that BN is overly confident in the Johor polls, Ahmad Zahid said the coalition is not complacent and instead views itself as an underdog given the current political landscape in the state.
He said BN must work harder to improve on its previous performance of 40 seats, particularly as more than half of Johor’s electorate now consists of young voters.
Ahmad Zahid added that the manifesto introduced by Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi places strong emphasis on youth development, including job creation and skills training through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
He said the declining unemployment rate of 2.9 per cent is encouraging, but stressed that young people still need access to higher-paying jobs through enhanced skills training programmes.
BN, which previously won 40 seats, is contesting all 56 state seats in the upcoming Johor election, with polling set for July 11 and early voting on July 7.
