Onn Hafiz is a ‘safe bet’ as BN poster boy, says analyst

 Azeem Fazwan Farouk says the Johor menteri besar’s performance, lineage and lack of controversy make him the best candidate to lead BN at the next state polls.

In March, Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi touted Johor’s RM110 billion in approved investments in 2025 as proof of its economic progress. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi is a safe bet to lead Barisan Nasional (BN) into the upcoming state election, thanks to his steady performance in office and an absence of major controversies, a political analyst said.

Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Azeem Fazwan Farouk said BN will likely bank on Onn Hafiz’s track record to persuade voters that retaining him as menteri besar would benefit Johor economically.

“I think one can say overall that Onn Hafiz has done a decent job running Johor,” he told FMT, adding that the incumbent has “good pedigree”, being the great-grandson of Umno founder Onn Jaafar, a former menteri besar.

In March, Onn Hafiz pointed to Johor’s RM110 billion in approved investments for 2025 as evidence of the state’s economic progress, adding that the projects were expected to generate 24,584 jobs for its people.

Azeem Fazwan Farouk.

He said the state’s success was reflected in its transformation into an increasingly mature and competitive economic structure, driven in part by the development of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone.

On June 2, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed that Onn Hafiz would lead Johor BN into the state polls, adding that the coalition aims to surpass its 2022 haul of 40 out of 56 state assembly seats.

BN’s strong position

Azeem said BN already had several factors working in its favour, pointing to Johor Umno’s strong roots. He also said that, in Onn Hafiz, the coalition has a menteri besar candidate likely acceptable to the palace.

Ibrahim Suffian.

Merdeka Center programme director Ibrahim Suffian noted that the Johor government has completed its term relatively unscathed, even escaping strong criticism from PH, holder of 12 seats in the state assembly, due to the coalitions’ cooperation in Putrajaya.

He also expects BN to benefit from a consolidation within Umno brought about by the return of key party figures such as Hishammuddin Hussein and Khairy Jamaluddin.

However, Azeem said it was too early to say whether BN would better its 2022 performance, which saw a lower turnout due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Expecting stronger participation this time around, he said BN was likely to do well given Malay support for PN in Johor appears to have “plateaued”.

“If PN loses Bersatu, its Malay support will fall significantly,” he added.

He said the non-Malay vote was also especially important, given that Malays make up just over half of Johor’s electorate. - FMT