“Perhaps the court cluster is increasingly desperate and feels that the only way to escape being imprisoned is by tearing apart the separation of powers,” he said on Facebook.

“I won’t be surprised if Johor will be followed by other states. Such is the reality of desperate people who are power-hungry and afraid of prison.”

The “court cluster” refers to a group of Umno leaders who are either on trial or have been convicted on such charges as criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering.

The Johor state assembly was dissolved earlier today after weeks of speculation and calls from Umno leaders for fresh polls. An election must be held within 60 days of the dissolution, which means that it must take place on or before March 23.

Wan Saiful said Bersatu’s Supreme Council will meet soon to finalise the party’s strategy for the elections, but believed it was unwise to hold elections during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Johor politics is stable … There is no reason at all to hold elections, except for the lust of some people in Umno,” he said.

Johor menteri besar Hasni Mohammad said he had been prompted to seek a fresh mandate after the Barisan Nasional-led government’s majority was reduced to a solitary seat following the death of Bersatu’s Kempas assemblyman Osman Sapian in December.