Johor MB Onn Hafiz Ghazi defends the Machap seat against Nor Hafiz Roslan in a straight fight for the state election.
PETALING JAYA: The Machap state seat will witness a straight fight in the 16th Johor state election, with incumbent Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi taking on Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Nor Hafiz Roslan.
EC returning officer Mohd Izzul Helmi confirmed that both candidates were eligible to contest after the nomination process concluded smoothly today.
Only two nomination papers were submitted for the Machap seat, with no objections received.
Nor Hafiz, 41, a native of Sri Lalang, said he would campaign on a development-focused platform centred on improving the constituency and the well-being of its residents.
Arriving at the nomination centre at 9.03am accompanied by PH supporters and Amanah vice-president Datuk Mohd Hatta Ramli, Nor Hafiz said the coalition would present its vision for Machap throughout the campaign period.
“From PH, we will present our manifesto and offers focusing on Machap’s development and the well-being of the people,” he said.
Meanwhile, Onn Hafiz expressed hope that the two-week campaign would be conducted in a mature, respectful and harmonious manner.
The caretaker Menteri Besar, who is also Johor BN chairman, arrived at the nomination centre accompanied by senior BN leaders, including BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
“I congratulate all candidates contesting. I hope we can campaign in a healthy, orderly and respectful manner in the spirit of democracy,” he said.
The Machap constituency has 35,206 registered voters, including 28 early voters.
The contest is expected to draw significant attention as Onn Hafiz seeks to retain the seat while leading BN’s campaign to defend its administration in Johor.
Onn Hafiz won the Machap seat in the 2022 Johor state election with a majority of 6,543 votes in a four-cornered contest after securing 11,029 votes.
He previously served as the Layang-Layang assemblyman after winning the seat in the 2018 general election with a narrow majority of 364 votes.
Nor Hafiz, an Amanah Youth committee member, was among the candidates unveiled earlier this week by PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a programme in Tangkak as part of the coalition’s strategy to field more young leaders in the state election.
