JOHOR BARU: State Perikatan Nasional information chief Mohd Solihan Badri (pic) has slammed a former Bersatu assemblyman for allegedly bringing the Sabah-based Parti Warisan into the Johor polls.

       Mohd Solihan, who is also Tenang incumbent assemblyman, claimed that Mazlan Bujang had "sponsored" the establishment of Warisan in Johor.

       "Mazlan is an opportunist as not only was he willing to sponsor the setting up of Warisan in Johor but may do the same for other parties from outside the country.

       "Bersatu views Mazlan's act of bringing a Sabah-based party into Johor as a selfish act," he said in a statement here on Thursday (Feb 17).

       He also said that Mazlan's alleged involvement with Warisan showed that he is not welcomed in any other main parties here despite openly declaring his support for Barisan Nasional under the leadership of former Johor mentri besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad.

       "When he left Bersatu, he said that he will not be joining any parties but will throw his support for Barisan.

       "The question now is why is he not joining Umno and how is the change in his stand going to prove that he is still supporting Hasni in the state election," Mohd Solihan said.

       Meanwhile, when contacted, Mazlan denied the allegations, adding that he has nothing to do with Warisan's decision to enter the Johor polls.

       "Warisan had already announced its three coordinators and I am not one of them. Even if I do join Warisan, I will only come in later.

       "On my support towards Hasni, of course I will still support him as he was the mentri besar and I am still a state executive councillor.

       "Although we are no longer assemblymen following the dissolution of the state assembly, we are still state executive councillors and I am still receiving my salary for that," he said.

       On Jan 27, he announced his exit from Bersatu.

       This came just days after the state assembly was dissolved on Jan 22.