Tag: Johor DAP

Political Stability Should Not Depend on Single-Party Dominance

JOHOR BAHRU, June 4 — Johor DAP has cautioned against a return to single-party political dominance, arguing that long-term stability is better achieved through power-sharing, checks and balances, and cooperation among different political parties. In a statement today, Johor DAP Vice Chairman and Pakatan Harapan Johor Communications Director Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali said recent remarks by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, expressing Barisan Nasional’s (BN) intention to contest all 56 Johor state seats, have raised questions about the possibility of restoring a political landscape dominated by a single party. According to Sheikh Umar, while BN’s ambition reflects its confidence and desire to form a strong and stable state government, excessive political dominance could lead to an imbalance of power and weaken democratic oversight. “Political stability does not necessarily require absolute control by one party. Stability can also be achieved through cooperation, shared responsibility and unity among parties representing different backgrounds and interests,” he said. He pointed to Malaysia’s political experience before 2018, when BN’s dominance was so entrenched that many Malaysians viewed a change of government through elections as nearly impossible. “This created a culture of political fear, where voters were often led to believe that a change in government would result in instability,” he said. Sheikh Umar said developments since the 2018 general election had demonstrated the importance of healthy political competition, effective checks and balances, and public confidence in democratic transitions of power. He also cited concerns over the recent appointment of five nominated assemblypersons ahead of the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly. While acknowledging that the appointments were lawful, he questioned whether they were necessary given the government’s existing strong majority, adding that the move had created perceptions that differing views were not adequately considered. He further noted that the decision to hold a separate Johor state election instead of aligning it with the next general election had sparked debate, particularly amid economic uncertainties linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia. According to Sheikh Umar, some observers believe a standalone state election could impose additional costs on both the government and taxpayers. He said Johor and Malaysia have benefited from the current power-sharing approach at the federal level, citing development initiatives such as data centre investments, the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project, the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), and various socio-economic assistance programmes. “The political landscape has changed significantly since GE14. The idea that only one party can provide a stable and effective government is no longer the only model available,” he said. Sheikh Umar stressed that ensuring a balance of power, maintaining effective checks and balances, and fostering political cooperation would be more important in securing Johor’s long-term stability and prosperity than allowing any single party to dominate the political system.  -- MINUTESMY  --PRESSKL

JOHOR BAHRU, June 4 — Johor DAP has cautioned against a return to single-party political dominance, arguing that long-term stability is better achieved through power-sharing, checks and balances, and cooperation among different political parties. In a statement today, Johor DAP Vice Chairman and Pakatan Harapan Johor Communications Director Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali said recent remarks by […]