UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has downplayed Johor Umno’s expression of its readiness to “take on” Amanah in the next state election.

Zahid, who is also the Barisan Nasional chairman, said any official decision for Johor Umno to contest against its Amanah counterpart would be announced by the party’s top leadership.

“So long as the statement does not come from a party chairman or president or secretary-general, we consider whatever said a personal opinion and not the party’s decision,” he told reporters after an event at the Parliament building today.

Zahid was asked to comment on Johor Umno secretary Abdul Halim Sulaiman’s statement that the state chapter is ready to take on Amanah at the polls, after the Pakatan Harapan component party announced its intention to contest up to 20 seats in the next state election.

Halim said Amanah needed to realise it was fortunate to even win two parliamentary seats during the 2022 general election, and one state seat in the March 2022 state election.

He also said the wins were due to DAP’s strength in Johor rather than its own.

Yesterday, Johor Amanah deputy chief Dzulkefly Ahmad said the state chapter wanted to vie for 12 to 20 state seats out of disgruntlement with BN’s refusal to form a unity government in Johor.

Yesterday, Zahid ticked off Dzulkefly for politicking, saying Amanah should focus on serving the people as Johor would not be holding elections anytime soon.

The Johor government was formed by BN following its landslide win in the 2022 state election. BN holds 40 seats in the 56-seat state assembly, PH 12, and Perikatan Nasional four.

However, despite support from the 12 PH assemblymen, the state government remains solely under the control of BN.

Johor Amanah has repeatedly called for a unity government to be formed in the state but this has been rejected by menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi.