As Johor heads towards a highly anticipated state election, a fresh war of words between DAP and Barisan Nasional (BN) has exposed the increasingly complicated relationship between political allies at the federal level and rivals on the state battlefield.
The latest exchange erupted after Johor Menteri Besar and Johor BN chairman Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi declared that he would rather relinquish his position than govern alongside DAP in a Johor state administration. His remarks were delivered during the launch of BN's election machinery in Iskandar Puteri, where he sought to reassure grassroots supporters that a vote for BN would not translate into support for DAP.
Onn Hafiz insisted that Johor BN had never been aligned with DAP and pledged that if BN were returned to power, DAP would not be part of the state government. Emphasising what he described as the "Bangsa Johor spirit," he stated that he would rather forgo the menteri besar post than sit at the same table with DAP leaders.
The comments quickly drew a response from DAP secretary-general and Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook, who accused Onn Hafiz of displaying political arrogance while highlighting what many view as an obvious contradiction.
In a brief but pointed social media post, Loke reminded the Johor BN chief that Umno president and BN chairman Dato' Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi currently serves in the same federal government as DAP leaders. Accompanying his remarks with a photograph of himself seated beside Zahid during a Cabinet meeting, Loke sarcastically noted that Zahid sits next to the DAP secretary-general every week.
The exchange reveals the delicate balancing act being performed by both BN and Pakatan Harapan (PH). While the two coalitions remain partners in Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim's unity government at the federal level, they are preparing to become direct competitors in Johor.
Johor BN has confirmed that it will contest all 56 state seats, effectively ruling out electoral cooperation with PH. In response, PH has also announced plans to field candidates in all constituencies. The result is shaping up to be a full-scale contest between two coalitions that govern together in Putrajaya but are increasingly distancing themselves from one another in state politics.
Adding another layer to the debate, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi used the same event to remind voters and political opponents that the current unity government would not exist without BN's support. According to Zahid, BN's 30 Members of Parliament were instrumental in enabling PH to secure a governing majority after the 2022 general election.
His remarks appeared to reinforce the reality that despite fiery campaign rhetoric, cooperation between BN and PH remains a political necessity at the national level.
For voters, the contrasting messages raise an unavoidable question: if BN and DAP can sit together in the federal Cabinet for the sake of national stability, why is sitting at the same table in Johor portrayed as unacceptable?
As the election campaign gathers momentum, that question may become one of the defining issues shaping public perception of both coalitions. The Johor polls are no longer just a contest for state power - they are rapidly becoming a test of political consistency, credibility, and whether voters are willing to accept one narrative in Putrajaya and another in Johor.
By: Kpost
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