ISKANDAR PUTERI: Barisan Nasional did not take the decision to trigger the state election lightly or because the party was on a “winning streak” from Melaka and Sarawak, says Datuk Hasni Mohammad.

The caretaker mentri besar said the coalition called for the election after a lot of thought.

“We want the state to be much better. Johor is not just an ordinary state,” he said during the launch of the Barisan Nasional machinery from four Barisan divisions here on Friday (Feb 4).

He stressed that Barisan did not want to govern the state with “courtesy” from the opposition.

He said that he had taken a political risk in calling for his state polls on Jan 22.

“I have been attacked with so many accusations for calling for this state elections, but I just did this just to have a stable government.

“We called for this elections to give the mandate back to the people of Johor,” he said.

“This election will be a barometer for Malaysia. We are the deciding factor for the leadership of this country,” he said.

He added that Barisan and all other political parties should move forward to compete in the state election instead of looking backwards.