JOHOR BARU, June 1 — Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi has accused DAP of using government‑linked company (GLC) positions as political bargaining chips, following controversy over a purported offer involving Skudai assemblyman Marina Ibrahim.

Puad claimed the matter came to light when Marina allegedly rejected a proposal to contest the Tiram state seat in exchange for a GLC post. He said DAP had frequently criticised other parties for making political appointments in GLCs, describing such practices as unethical and unprofessional, yet was now guilty of the same.

“DAP is worse. The offer was made even before winning an election. It would be different if an appointment came after the polls, to recognise someone’s position as an assemblyman who was not made an Exco member or minister,” he wrote.

Puad further alleged that Johor DAP chairman Teo Nie Ching’s assurance to Marina demonstrated the party’s influence over Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, adding that similar issues could arise in Selangor and Penang.

He challenged DAP to disclose the names of its assemblymen and leaders — including those without elected positions — who hold GLC posts at federal and state level.

JOHOR BAHRU, June 2 — The special Johor state assembly sitting scheduled for June 22 has been cancelled.

The special one-day sitting was cancelled after Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced the dissolution of the state assembly yesterday.

Johor state legislative assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi confirmed the matter which had earlier attracted mixed reactions after it was posted on social media.

He briefly told the media that it was cancelled when asked if the sitting would continue.

On May 29, several Johor assemblymen said that they received a notice calling the special one-day state assembly sitting on June 22.

Some questioned the need for the additional sitting, with others saying that it could be an announcement for the dissolution of the state assembly.

Yesterday, Onn Hafiz announced the dissolution of the state assembly paving the way for a state election.

The Johor state legislative assembly, which has 56 seats, was scheduled to end its term on April 21 next year.

The previous state election in March 2022 saw BN forming the state government after winning a supermajority of 40 out of 56 contested state constituencies.

Pakatan Harapan (PH) only managed to wrest 12 seats, with DAP securing 10, while PKR and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) won one seat each.

Perikatan Nasional (PN) took three seats, while the youth-centric Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) secured one seat.