Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (centre) and the coalition’s communications director Datuk Fahmi Fadzil greet residents during a community event at the Taman Desa Mutiara People’s Housing Project (PPR) in Johor Bahru May 17, 2026. — Picture by Ben Tan
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By Ben Tan
Sunday, 17 May 2026 7:22 PM MYT
JOHOR BAHRU, May 17 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim intends to meet his counterpart in Barisan Nasional (BN) Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to discuss the coalition’s Johor leadership decision to contest on its own in the upcoming state election.
Anwar, who is also the prime minister, said he hopes the discussion, which may involve negotiations, will be a positive step for both coalitions.
“I hope to meet the BN chairman, who is also the Umno president, to discuss in detail (the current situation in Johor).
“We want to help and rectify the situation if there were any mistakes made. We understand if there was a misunderstanding, there will be disputes.
“What is important is there must be a will to help the people,” he said in his speech at a community event held at the Taman Desa Mutiara People’s Housing Project (PPR) hall here today.
The PKR president was referring to an urgent meeting with Ahmad Zahid over Johor BN’s decision yesterday to contest all 56 state constituencies on its own.
On a related matter, Anwar called on Taman Desa Mutiara PPR residents to support the PH candidate in the coming state election.
He also reminded community leaders and elected representatives to remain on the ground and not only appear when elections approach.
Anwar later approved an allocation of RM1 million to repair community facilities at Taman Desa Mutiara.