KOTA BARU: Umno and Barisan Nasional should utilise the same approach used by the party and the coalition in the Melaka polls for a successful outcome in the Johor State Election.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the method utilised would prove to be an advantage based on the outcome seen from the Melaka State Election.
"Whatever the party decides, we will give our full support to Barisan Nasional (BN).
"The template (from the Melaka polls ) can be used. Based on the Melaka election, it seems to give an advantage," he said.
He said this at press conference after paying a courtesy call on Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob in Kota Darulnaim here today.
Yesterday, Umno Deputy President Mohamad Hassan said Umno was seeking to contest at least 42 of the 56 State Assembly seats in the upcoming Johor election.
However, the seat figure had not taken into account the state seats that will be contested by BN component parties, he explained.
The Johor state assembly was officially dissolved on Saturday (Jan 22) after obtaining the consent of the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.
The outgoing Johor State Assembly comprised 56 seats with Umno (14), DAP (14), Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (11), PKR (7), Parti Amanah Negara (6), MIC (2) and PAS (1).
The Johor government had a slim majority of one seat with 28 seats compared to the 27 seats held by the opposition bloc in the assembly.
The state government's position became tenuous following the death of Kempas state assemblyman Datuk Osman Sapian, who is also the former Menteri Besar, on Dec 21 last year.
The Election commission is scheduled to hold a special meeting on Feb 9 to decide on details and dates, namely nomination day, early voting day and normal voting day for the Johor State Election.
The Johor polls is the fourth state election to be held since the 14th General Election. State polls were previously held in Sabah, Melaka and Sarawak.