KUALA LUMPUR — A war of words has erupted within Malaysia's unity government after Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi sharply rebuked DAP deputy chairman Nga Kor Ming for criticising the Election Commission's (EC) decision to hold the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections on separate dates.
The EC announced on Thursday that Johor voters will head to the polls on July 11, while Negeri Sembilan will vote three weeks later on August 1. The decision drew immediate criticism from Muda and from Nga, who said the two elections should be held concurrently and that the EC chairman "must be held accountable."
Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, hit back at his Cabinet colleague on Friday, saying that no individual — especially a government minister — should question the EC's authority. "No individual should question the EC's authority, especially a Cabinet minister who is also a senior leader in a party that is part of the government," Zahid told reporters.
The Umno president also pointed out a factual error in Nga's statement. The DAP leader had claimed that both state assemblies were dissolved on the same day. In reality, the Johor state legislative assembly was dissolved on June 1, while the Negeri Sembilan assembly was dissolved four days later, on June 4.
The separate polling dates have become a flashpoint in the lead-up to the two critical state elections. EC chairman Ramlan Harun cited logistical constraints and a lack of operational readiness as the reasons for the staggered schedule. He explained that Negeri Sembilan's sudden dissolution left the EC with insufficient time to complete the necessary groundwork for simultaneous polling.
The Johor election is estimated to cost RM86.8 million, while the Negeri Sembilan election will cost approximately RM80 million — a combined bill of nearly RM167 million borne by taxpayers.
Zahid also addressed the political turmoil in Negeri Sembilan, denying that Umno had betrayed Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the state. He pointed out that the party had ultimately ordered its 14 assemblymen to continue backing Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun's administration, despite initially retracting their support earlier this month.
"We agreed to back Aminuddin till the end of his term," Zahid said, pushing back against accusations from PH leaders that Umno had attempted to topple the Negeri Sembilan state government.
The public spat between Zahid and Nga underscores the fragility of the unity government alliance as both coalitions — Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan — prepare to face off in the two state elections. While they remain partners at the federal level, the upcoming polls have exposed deep fissures in their relationship, raising questions about how the unity arrangement will weather the pressures of competitive state-level campaigning.
The Johor state election will see nomination day on June 27, with early voting scheduled for July 7. Negeri Sembilan's nomination day is yet to be announced by the EC.
Sources: Free Malaysia Today, Bernama
