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JOHOR BAHRU - Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has dismissed claims that Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi betrayed the federal unity government by dissolving the Johor State Legislative Assembly early.
He also defended Onn Hafiz’s decision to lead Barisan Nasional (BN) to contest the Johor state election on its own.
Instead, the Deputy Prime Minister said Onn Hafiz’s decision was driven by the need to safeguard the Barisan Nasional-led state government, which was formed before the establishment of the federal unity government.
“Onn Hafiz must be supported and backed to continue defending the Barisan Nasional government in Johor.
“That is why he needs to lead a strong government, because the Johor state government is a Barisan Nasional government, not a Unity Government like the one in Putrajaya,” he said in a meet-and-greet event held in Iskandar Puteri on Thursday.
He noted that the Johor government had been formed under Barisan Nasional prior to the establishment of the Unity Government in Putrajaya.
Responding to criticism that Onn Hafiz had acted against the spirit of cooperation between BN and Pakatan Harapan (PH) at the federal level, Zahid rejected the accusation, insisting the Johor Menteri Besar remained loyal to the coalition.
“That is why Datuk Onn Hafiz announced his intention to contest all seats in Johor. Although he has been accused of being a traitor or of betraying the Unity Government, I defend his decision.
“He is not betraying anyone. He is simply trying to protect the Barisan Nasional government in Johor.
“Why call it a betrayal? It is not. I know him well, and he has never betrayed anyone,” he added.
The Election Commission has set July 11 as the polling day for the Johor state election.
Barisan Nasional is contesting all 56 state constituencies on its own despite remaining a component of the federal unity government alongside Pakatan Harapan.
The decision to go solo was championed by Onn Hafiz and subsequently endorsed by Zahid after the coalition said it had taken into account feedback from grassroots members, who wanted BN to seek a fresh mandate independently in Johor.
