Johor MB shoots down Azmin’s unity govt proposal

 

Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi said PN information chief Azmin Ali was irresponsible for making divisive statements about the formation of a unity government in Johor. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi has hit back at Perikatan Nasional (PN) information chief Azmin Ali for daring him to form a unity government in the state if the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate wins the upcoming Mahkota by-election.

Onn Hafiz, who is also the Johor BN chairman, told China Press today that outsiders like Azmin do not have the right to comment on the state’s governance as they do not have a true understanding of the issue.

The Johor Umno chief also said Selangor PN chief Azmin was irresponsible for making such divisive statements.

What do outsiders like Azmin know about Johor? He is just here to help out in the by-election campaign,

 Onn Hafiz was quoted as saying.

“Do you think Azmin will still stay in Mahkota after the by-election?

“Leaders like him, who are not based in Johor, will leave after making divisive statements in their speeches.

This kind of politics has no place in Johor. It was a very irresponsible move (by Azmin)… In the end, it will be up to me to clean up the mess.

Yesterday, Azmin, who is also PN’s director for the Mahkota by-election, questioned the lack of a unity government in Johor and dared Onn Hafiz to form one if BN’s candidate, Kluang Umno Youth chief Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah, wins on Sept 28.

The Johor state government was formed by BN, which has 39 seats in the state assembly, with the support of Pakatan Harapan, with 12 seats.

However, the two coalitions have not formed an alliance, unlike in the federal government.

‘Very good’ relationship with PH leaders

Meanwhile, Onn Hafiz said he had always maintained a 

very good

 relationship with PH leaders, including Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Ask Johor’s opposition leader, Andrew Chen, or any other PH leaders. I allocate the same funds to all state assemblymen. What I give to BN, I will also give to my friends in PH.

He also said the unity government at the federal level was formed in November 2022, months after Johor held its state election in March 2022.

Similarly, Selangor and Penang did not dissolve or restructure their administrative teams before the six state elections last year. We are following the same reasoning here,

 he said.

However, Onn Hafiz said he remained open to discussing the possibility of forming a unity government in Johor ahead of the next state election, which must be held by June 2027. - FMT