Johor Umno to meet to discuss upcoming Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections

PONTIAN: Johor Umno will be having a special meeting on Thursday (Aug 17) night to discuss the upcoming by-elections here, says Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

The Umno supreme council member said a closed-door meeting was expected to be held at 8pm at the Johor Mentri Besar’s house.

“As early as tonight (Aug 17), Johor Umno will begin its preparations for the upcoming Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections.

“Johor Umno chairman Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and several other state party leaders will be attending the meeting.

“We want to ensure that both the parliamentary and state seats will be won by our counterparts under the Barisan Nasional-Pakatan Harapan alliance,” he said.

Ahmad, who is also Johor Umno deputy chairman, said this to reporters when met after the state-level fly the Jalur Gemilang programme at the Pontian Municipal Council here on Thursday (Aug 17).

He said this when asked about Johor Umno’s preparations for the upcoming by-elections in Pulai and Simpang Jeram.

Ahmad said he would also be having a meeting with the Pulai Umno division on Thursday (Aug 17) evening before the meeting with Johor Umno.

Asked if the decision for Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) to contest the two seats was final, he said that was the understanding at the moment.

“I am only repeating what has been mentioned by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi whereby the seats belong to Amanah.

“That is the announcement that has been made for now and we will stick to that,” he said.

It is also learnt Johor Barisan Nasional and Johor Pakatan Harapan would be having a closed door meeting on Friday (Aug 18) to further discuss upcoming by-elections.

The Election Commission (EC) had set nomination day for the Simpang Jeram state seat and Pulai parliamentary by-elections on Aug 26.

Polling will be on Sept 9 while early voting on Sept 5.

The Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state seats became vacant following the death of Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, who was also Amanah deputy president.

Salahuddin, who was Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, died on July 23 following a brain haemorrhage. He was 61.