After Hasni’s call, eyes on Onn Hafiz as next MB

 

After Hasni Mohammad (left) called for a younger person to lead Johor, focus turned to Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

PETALING JAYA: Onn Hafiz Ghazi, grandson of Umno’s founder, is being touted as the next menteri besar of Johor, following Johor BN leader Hasni Mohammad’s call today for a young person to lead Johor.

Hasni had been expected to be nominated for another term as menteri besar after Barisan Nasional secured a landslide victory at the state elections on Saturday.

However he called for party leaders to choose a younger person to lead the state, saying it would be better for Johor’s future.

Onn Hafiz, 44, is the grandson of Umno founder Onn Jaafar and a cousin of defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

His name as a possible next menteri besar has been making the rounds since the election campaign began.

A report by Berita Harian today speculated that Onn Hafiz would replace Hasni. However, Malaysiakini reported that Onn Hafiz was among three names proposed by Umno, with the other two being Hasni and Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi.

There was speculation that Onn Hafiz would be the preferred choice of the Palace.

Onn Hafiz was executive councillor for tourism in Hasni’s government. He was elected to the Layang-Layang seat in 2018 with a narrow 364-vote majority against a PKR candidate.

At the elections last Saturday, he won in Machap with a comfortable majority of 6,543 against his nearest rival from Perikatan Nasional. - FMT