KUALA LUMPUR (May 28): The youth wing of DAP, the largest party in the unity government, has said that if Umno goes ahead with its intention to contest independently in the upcoming Johor state election, Parliament should be dissolved.

The call comes after Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced that Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) would contest all 56 state seats in the southernmost state of Peninsular malaysia, triggering a tit-for-tat exchange between BN and Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders.

In a statement on Thursday, DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) stressed that the unity government exists on a mandate of stability and cooperation, warning against any party that continues to undermine the coalition from within.

“If any party seeks to backstab and undermine the spirit of unity, DAPSY calls on the prime minister to dissolve Parliament immediately and hold a general election together with the Johor state election and other state elections, so that the people can be given a clear and final mandate in one go to punish those they deem as traitors,” it said.

Tensions have recently escalated within Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition members after Johor BN decided to contest independently in the upcoming state election.

Political friction has also emerged in Negeri Sembilan after all Umno assemblymen — the lynchpin party of BN — withdrew their support for Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun over his handling of a crisis involving the state monarchy.

Although the unity government’s term runs until early 2028, Anwar has previously indicated that a snap election is possible and that he will meet PH leaders to discuss the matter in due course.

Johor, Melaka and Sarawak are all due to hold state elections within the next year. Persistent leadership infighting in opposition-led Perlis has also raised the risk of early polls.

On Thursday, DAPSY said seat negotiations between PH and BN during the 2023 state elections had helped Umno retain political relevance in Malaysia’s political landscape.

It added that Umno is unable to defeat Perikatan Nasional in the Malay-Muslim heartland, suggesting the party still requires support from urban and non-Malay voters, who can only be convinced through stability, performance and moderation rather than divisive rhetoric.

DAPSY also cited projections by electoral reform group Tindak Malaysia, which purportedly showed that PH could have formed the Johor state government with 29 seats if the 2022 general election and state elections had been held simultaneously.