PH doesn’t need ‘poster boy’ to win Johor polls, says analyst

 The matter had been the subject of an exchange between PKR vice-president Dr Zaliha Mustafa and Johor BN chief Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

PKR vice-president Dr Zaliha Mustafa said Johor BN chief Onn Hafiz Ghazi need not fret over who would be the PH poster boy.

PETALING JAYA:

An election “poster boy” is not a prerequisite for Pakatan Harapan to win the Johor state polls, says a political analyst after PH was challenged by state Barisan Nasional chief Onn Hafiz Ghazi to unveil the face of its campaign.

Mazlan Ali.

Political analyst Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said while unveiling a poster boy could show PH’s seriousness about leading the state government, it could also backfire if the person does not eventually become the menteri besar.

Mazlan said the sultan of Johor has constitutional discretion in the appointment of the menteri besar, and candidates named by political parties may not necessarily receive his assent.

“Someone named as a poster boy may feel he is the menteri besar candidate if his party wins the majority of the seats after the election. But if the sultan does not accept his candidacy, this could pose a problem.

“Maybe PH is being strategic in not naming a poster boy. Let the menteri besar be decided after the election, with the sultan’s consent,” he told FMT.

In the 2022 Johor state election, state Umno chief Hasni Mohammad led the BN election campaign but did not become menteri besar. Instead, Onn Hafiz was appointed by the sultan.

Onn Hafiz, who is the current state BN chief, had recently challenged PH to name its “poster boy” for the election. He said voters had a right to know who PH would propose as its menteri besar candidate.

However, he also said that being a poster boy did not guarantee appointment as menteri besar, as royal consent was crucial in determining who would lead the state government.

PKR vice-president Dr Zaliha Mustafa questioned Onn Hafiz’s stance, and said he need not fret over PH’s choice as the coalition had many capable leaders who could take charge.

Lau Zhe Wei.

Lau Zhe Wei of the International Islamic University of Malaysia said that having a poster boy would be informative for voters who want to know who their potential leaders are.

“As an outsider, I’d prefer to have a poster boy. At least I would know who the menteri besar-in-waiting is,” he said.

But Lau said it remains politically safer for PH not to name its poster boy, given the uncertainty that typically surrounds such matters.

He also noted that Perikatan Nasional has faced internal debates over which of its leaders should be its prime minister candidate. - FMT