KLUANG: The Mahkota by-election is crucial as it sets the stage for the continued cooperation between the Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional coalition ahead of the 16th general election.
Johor DAP chairman Liew Chin Tong said that both parties must maintain their collaboration to win future elections and govern together.
He emphasised that unity is key to the success of the PH-BN coalition.
"To maintain national stability and achieve Malaysia's second economic leap, while securing the future of our beloved country, the unity government must contest together in GE16.
"In fact, efforts must begin early to ensure one-to-one contests in all seats during GE16.
"Johor is a critical battleground. It has 26 parliamentary seats, making it the state with the most seats in Peninsular Malaysia.
"The PH-BN coalition controls 24 out of these 26 seats, which serves as the foundation of the Federal Government's political strength," he said in a statement on his official Facebook page today.
Liew, who is also the Investment, Trade, and Industry deputy minister, said that the unity government governs together, wins and loses elections together, and aims to build the nation together for future generations.
He added that after more than 22 months, the unity government remains strong and has managed to govern effectively.
"In the 2022 general election, all three coalitions – PH, BN, and Perikatan Nasional (PN) – failed to secure an absolute majority to form the government.
"On the advice of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional agreed to work together to establish the unity government," he said.
Previously, the verbal sparring between Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh and DAP vice-president Teresa Kok over the halal certification issue has ended, after Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stated he had personally intervened to ease tensions between the two.
In Mahkota, BN's Syed Hussien will be up against PN's Mohammad Haizan Jaafar, also known as Coach Haizan.
The state assembly seat was left vacant following the death of its former assemblywoman, Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, on Aug 2.
She had won the seat for BN in the March 2022 state election with a majority of 5,166 votes.