BN owes voters explanation why Hasni sidelined – PKR leader

 

BN and Umno must explain to voters why its incumbent menteri besar Hasni Mohammad was sidelined for a second term following the state election on Saturday, said Johor PKR deputy chief Jimmy Puah.

He said choosing Machap state assemblyperson Onn Hafiz Ghazi over Hasni (above, middle) to lead the state government instead was tantamount to cheating the rakyat.

“During the election - whether on posters, billboards, or flags - Hasni was promoted as the next menteri besar. It was their selling point and undeniably one of the factors for their victory.

“But abruptly switching the menteri besar candidate shows Umno and BN’s arrogance by cheating the people after winning the election.

“We should respect the people’s decision. The people have chosen Umno and BN to lead Johor, but they (BN) used the people as tools and embroiled them in political fighting,” Puah said in a statement today.

He chided Umno and BN for triggering the election on the pretext of ensuring political stability, only to “turn Johor politics upside down” within days after the election.

“This clearly shows the move to dissolve the state assembly was not for political stability or to benefit the rakyat, but solely for personal political tussles,” he said.

Onn Hafiz was sworn in as the 19th Johor menteri besar today.

Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi

The appointment followed BN’s landslide victory at the election that saw the coalition win 40 of the state’s 56 constituencies.

Prior to Onn Hafiz's appointment as menteri besar, BN seemingly faced obstacles in having their nominee for the post sworn in.

Although Hasni was the face of BN throughout the campaign, he conceded yesterday he would not be getting a second term and asked the party leadership to appoint a youth leader to lead the state.

Sources claimed a “higher power” was in favour of having Onn Hafiz as menteri besar. It was reported that Umno leaders have pushed back against the alleged interference.

Meanwhile, lawyer Azam Aziz said Onn Hafiz would still have to test his majority in the state assembly. - Mkini