PETALING JAYA, June 7 — Caretaker Johor menteri besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has declared he would not remain in office if Barisan Nasional (BN) were to form a state government with DAP.

Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported that the statement was made during the launch of BN’s election machinery in Iskandar Puteri, where he rejected suggestions that support for BN would translate into backing for DAP, describing the claim as “slander”.

“I would rather not hold the position of menteri besar or sit at the same table with them. This is the spirit of Johor, the Bangsa Johor spirit,” he was quoted as saying.

He said that when the state government is reformed with the consent of the Sultan of Johor and the Regent of Johor, and BN is given the mandate to lead again, it would not at any time form a government with DAP.

According to the report, Onn Hafiz, who also chairs Johor BN, said he had been directed by party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to seek feedback from divisions before the coalition’s election plan was finalised. 

KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — Transport Minister Anthony Loke today defended his ministry’s engagement with the Johor government, citing several transport-related events attended by Johor caretaker Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi as he renewed his invitation for the latter to join Tuesday’s KTM Komuter Selatan launch.

The DAP secretary-general’s response came after Onn Hafiz said he had yet to receive a formal invitation to the event despite being “touched” by Loke’s public invitation to ride the train service together.

In a Facebook post, Loke thanked the Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman for his lengthy response and for accepting the invitation.

“Thank you YAB Dato’ Onn Hafiz for such a detailed response and for your willingness to accept my invitation to ride the KTM Komuter Selatan,” he wrote.

Loke then listed several Ministry of Transport (MOT) programmes that Onn Hafiz had attended personally.

These included the RTS Link ceremony witnessed by the prime ministers of Malaysia and Singapore on January 11, 2024; the arrival of the first RTS Link train in Singapore on June 30, 2025; the special launch of the ETS3 service and official opening of the KTM Kluang station on August 23, 2025; and the completion ceremony for the Gemas-Johor Baru Electrified Double Track Project, as well as the launch of ETS services to Johor Baru, on December 11, 2025.

Loke also noted that representatives from the Johor government had attended several other MOT programmes, including the signing ceremony for the Kluang Heritage Railway Linear Park project on September 7, 2023, a working visit to the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex on January 11, 2024, and the reopening of the Pasir Gudang-Kempas Baru railway line on May 9, 2025.

However, he pointed out that no representative from the Johor government had attended the launch of the MyLesenB2 programme for school students in Johor Baru on May 11 this year.

“I understand election season is indeed busy. Perhaps some things were forgotten,” Loke wrote.

He added that there was a distinction between official functions and working visits.

“If it is merely one of my working visits, I do not wish to take up the menteri besar’s valuable time,” he said.

Loke said a formal invitation letter would be sent to Onn Hafiz and reiterated that the Johor menteri besar would be given an opportunity to speak at the event.

“However, the invitation letter will arrive as soon as possible. See you in Kulai on Tuesday,” he wrote.

In a postscript, Loke referred to a March 3 “dry run” of the Komuter Selatan service involving Johor’s transport exco.

“Johor’s transport exco had already boarded the train for a ‘dry run’ of the Komuter Selatan, even though the service had not been finalised at the time.

“The MOT was not informed either, but I did not make a fuss about it,” he said.

Yesterday, Onn Hafiz said he had yet to receive a formal invitation to Tuesday’s launch despite Loke’s public invitation.

The Johor menteri besar also said the state government had not been invited to several previous transport-related programmes in the state, including working visits involving the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex and the ETS Segamat project.

The exchange comes ahead of the Johor state election, where BN and Pakatan Harapan are expected to contest against each other despite remaining partners in the federal unity government.

The invitation itself followed remarks by Onn Hafiz that he would rather relinquish the Johor menteri besar post than sit at the same table with DAP.

In response, Loke had said DAP had never regarded anyone as an enemy and remained open to working with different political parties, before inviting Onn Hafiz to join him on the KTM Komuter Selatan journey from Kulai to Johor Baru.

Johor goes to the polls on July 11, with nomination day set for June 27 and early voting scheduled for July 7.

JOHOR BAHRU, June 2 — The special Johor state assembly sitting scheduled for June 22 has been cancelled.

The special one-day sitting was cancelled after Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced the dissolution of the state assembly yesterday.

Johor state legislative assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi confirmed the matter which had earlier attracted mixed reactions after it was posted on social media.

He briefly told the media that it was cancelled when asked if the sitting would continue.

On May 29, several Johor assemblymen said that they received a notice calling the special one-day state assembly sitting on June 22.

Some questioned the need for the additional sitting, with others saying that it could be an announcement for the dissolution of the state assembly.

Yesterday, Onn Hafiz announced the dissolution of the state assembly paving the way for a state election.

The Johor state legislative assembly, which has 56 seats, was scheduled to end its term on April 21 next year.

The previous state election in March 2022 saw BN forming the state government after winning a supermajority of 40 out of 56 contested state constituencies.

Pakatan Harapan (PH) only managed to wrest 12 seats, with DAP securing 10, while PKR and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) won one seat each.

Perikatan Nasional (PN) took three seats, while the youth-centric Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) secured one seat.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 — Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook and Johor caretaker Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi reportedly met today at the launch of the Shuttle Selatan service in Kulai, after days of public exchanges over political cooperation and federal-state ties.

Sinar Harian reported that Loke, who is also DAP secretary-general, arrived at the Kulai Railway Station event at 12.45pm, while Onn Hafiz, the Johor Barisan Nasional chairman, arrived about five minutes later.

Also present was Johor Public Works, Transport, Infrastructure and Communications Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh.

This followed Onn Hafiz’s remarks at BN’s machinery launch in Iskandar Puteri on June 7 that he would not work with DAP in the Johor polls.

Onn Hafiz had previously said he would rather give up the menteri besar post than sit at the same table with DAP.

Loke responded by saying DAP did not view anyone as an enemy and remained open to cooperation with other parties.

He later invited Onn Hafiz to join him on the KTM Komuter Selatan journey from Kulai to Johor Baru.

Loke also said a formal invitation letter would be sent to Onn Hafiz, and that the Johor leader would be given a chance to speak at today’s event.

Onn Hafiz later said he was touched to have finally been “invited” by Loke, but claimed he had yet to receive an official letter and that several earlier transport-related visits by Loke in Johor had not involved him or the relevant state executive councillor.

The exchange comes ahead of the Johor state election, where BN and Pakatan Harapan are expected to contest against each other despite remaining partners in the federal unity government, with polling set for July 11 after nomination on June 27 and early voting on July 7.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — The dissolution of the Johor state legislative assembly is timely as the state government is currently in its strongest position, backed by positive public support for the current leadership, says Umno Information chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

According to Kosmo! Online, Azalina, said the announcement by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi falls within the state government’s rights and discretion.

“Talk about Johor dissolving the assembly has been ongoing for some time; it was only a matter of timing. We even said Melaka should come first before Johor, but now Johor is first,” she said.

“Perhaps with what has happened recently, the 80th Umno anniversary at the Johor Istana Besar, and Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) winning the Super League title for the 12th consecutive season, I see strong positive support from the people of Johor towards the state leadership.”

She added that the state election process should be conducted with a strong emphasis on democratic principles and calm conduct.

“If possible, we must emphasise the democratic element. There should be no violence or issues arising. From a legal standpoint, we must understand the norms of elections in our system,” she said.

Azalina, who is also minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), said candidate selection lies with the political bureau and the state Barisan Nasional leadership, which apply their own evaluation criteria.

However, she stressed that young voters are a key demographic that cannot be ignored, as they now make up a significant portion of the political landscape.

JOHOR BAHRU, June 2 — The Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) Convention, scheduled for June 14, may be brought forward, according to its secretary Datuk Abdul Halim Suleiman.

He said the possibility arises from recent political developments in the state, particularly following the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly yesterday.

“We may change the date to an earlier one, before June 14,” he said briefly when contacted by Bernama.

Yesterday, Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly after obtaining the consent of Regent of Johor Tunku Mahkota Ismail, paving the way for a state election.

Previously, Onn Hafiz, who is also Johor BN chairman, was reported as saying that the convention would serve as a key platform to strengthen the coalition’s resolve and unity, as well as fine-tune the machinery’s preparations for the state election.

BN will contest all 56 state seats in the 16th Johor state election. — Bernama

JOHOR BAHRU, June 1 — Johor Pakatan Harapan (PH) is prepared to face the upcoming state election following the dissolution of the state legislative assembly.

In a joint statement, Johor PH said the coalition had expected that Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) would dissolve the assembly soon to pave way for an election.

“From the start, PH expected BN to dissolve the state assembly in the near future.

“In the spirit of democracy, PH will continue with existing preparations to face this election,” read the statement that was released tonight.

The statement was co-signed by Johor PH chairman and Johor Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) chief Aminolhuda Hassan; Johor PKR chief Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa; and Johor DAP chief Teo Nie Ching.

PH Johor also announced that it will hold discussions at the coalition’s Presidential Council level at the national level to plan its next steps.

“For us, there is no easy election. PH is prepared to make the best effort possible to win this state election,” read the statement.

In a related note, the coalition also criticised the June 22 special one-day state legislative assembly sitting, describing it as illogical.

The notice for the June 22 state legislative assembly sitting was widely expected to announce the dissolution of the Johor state assembly.

Earlier, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced the dissolution of the state legislative assembly.

This effectively paves the way for the state’s upcoming election.

ISKANDAR PUTERI, June 4 — The Johor state government has spent more than RM66 million to strengthen the state's public health sector over the past four years of its administration.

Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said this allocation was distributed to ensure the welfare and health of approximately four million people in the state continue to be preserved.

He said the state government cannot remain silent and must always prioritise public health issues because they involve the lives of the people.

“If following the old way, the state government would not need to channel more than RM66 million to the Johor State Health Department (JKNJ). However, when it involves the lives of nearly four million Johor citizens, we cannot turn a blind eye and a deaf ear.

“That's why I have never hesitated to get involved in strengthening the JKNJ, and I will continue to pay attention to the public health sector in this state,” he said.

He said this while officiating the state-level Nurses' Day Celebration, in Johor at the Sunway Big Box Hotel here today, which was also attended by the Johor health director Dr. Mohtar Pungut.

Onn Hafiz said the state government will also continue to help find solutions to the issue of healthcare workforce shortages, particularly involving nurses and doctors in Johor.

“In Johor, we know there is a shortage of nurses and doctors. We will work together to find the best methods to ensure these vacancies are filled promptly,” he said.

In the same event, Onn Hafiz also announced the allocation of RM500,000 to nurses in the state as a token of appreciation for their services and sacrifices, in addition to RM100,000 to medical assistants in the state.

He also said this move represents the state's continuous efforts to strengthen appreciation for healthcare workers by increasing allocations to nurses and medical assistants as recognition of their contributions to the healthcare sector.

He added that the allocation to the nurses in the state has shown a continuous increase since 2023, namely RM200,000 in the first year, RM300,000 in the following year and RM400,000 in 2025. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 — DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke fired back at Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) chief Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi after the latter declared he would rather resign than cooperate with DAP in forming the next Johor state government.

The exchange erupted after Onn Hafiz declared during the launch of the party’s election machinery in EduCity, Iskandar Puteri earlier today that “I would rather not hold the position of Menteri Besar than have to sit at the same table with them. This is the spirit of Johor, Bangsa Johor”. 

“You don’t want to sit at the same table with DAP…… Great! Keep up your arrogance,” Loke responded on Facebook, in a post that has since gone viral.

“But your president sits next to the DAP secretary-general every week, right… just so you know… thank you!” he added, in a pointed reminder that at the federal level, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi sits alongside DAP leaders in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Cabinet.

The war of words underscores the widening gap between federal and state political realities in Johor. 

While DAP and Umno are coalition partners in the unity government, Onn Hafiz has made clear that the arrangement does not extend to Johor.

Onn Hafiz insisted his stance was not driven by racial sentiment, as some have alleged, but rooted in Johor’s unique multiracial identity under the Bangsa Johor concept. 

He also claimed BN Johor has never sat at the same table with DAP, though he acknowledged that a previous menteri besar from Bersatu had done so.

The Johor legislative assembly was dissolved on June 1, paving the way for a state election that must be held within 60 days.

This round, BN is seeking a stronger mandate than its 2022 state election performance and has pledged to contest all 56 seats.

Onn Hafiz, who is caretaker menteri besar, has pledged to continue the Bantuan Kasih Johor assistance scheme if BN retains power.

At the time of dissolution, the division in the legislative assembly had BN holding 40 seats, followed by Pakatan Harapan (12), Perikatan Nasional (three), and Muda (one).

JOHOR BAHRU, June 2 — Official notification of the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly (DUN) was submitted to the Election Commission (EC) today, confirmed Johor State Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi.

The notice was submitted to formally inform the EC of the dissolution of the Johor State Assembly, which received the consent of Johor Regent Tunku Mahkota Ismail on June 1.

The EC had previously announced that it would convene a special meeting to discuss key dates for the Johor state election as soon as it received official notification of the assembly’s dissolution from the Speaker.

The meeting is expected to determine important dates for the state election, including nomination day, the campaign period and polling day.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced the dissolution of the state assembly yesterday after receiving the consent of the Johor Regent.

The state election must be held within 60 days from the effective date of the dissolution. — Bernama

KOTA TINGGI, June 2 — Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties should consider fielding young and new faces as candidates in the upcoming Johor state election, particularly in constituencies with a high percentage of young voters, Umno Information Chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said.

The move would not only have a positive impact on BN but would also create opportunities for a new generation of leaders to emerge as the party’s future leadership through the state legislative assembly, she added.

“We have to accept the reality that many young people are now voters. Even in my constituency, about 40 per cent of the electorate are young voters. My hope is that this will be given emphasis,” she told a press conference after launching the Madani Adopted Village Programme in Kampung Tanjung Serindit here today.

She pointed out that the final decision on candidate selection rests entirely with the state BN leadership and political bureau.

At the same time, Azalina, who is also Pengerang MP, expressed hope that the two incumbent state assemblymen under her parliamentary constituency — Aznan Tamin (Tanjung Surat) and Fauziah Misri (Penawar) — would be retained as candidates for this election, and that the election would proceed in the spirit of democracy, free from violence or any untoward incidents.

On the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly, Azalina said the state government under Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi had the right to dissolve the assembly with the consent of the Johor Palace.

According to her, the decision was made following continued positive support from the people of Johor for the state government’s leadership under BN.

“Perhaps with what has happened, such as the Umno 80th Anniversary Celebration at Istana Besar Johor and Johor Darul Ta’zim’s 12th Super League title victory, I see a great deal of positive support from the people of Johor towards the state government’s leadership. Maybe these are among the factors,” she said.

Yesterday, Onn Hafiz announced the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly with effect from June 1 after receiving the consent of Johor Regent, Tunku Mahkota Ismail. — Bernama

JOHOR BARU, June 1 — All eyes are on Johor today amid speculation that the state assembly could be dissolved.

According to the New Straits Times, Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi is scheduled to hold a special press conference at his official residence at 5pm.

The announcement, eagerly awaited across the political divide, is expected to pave the way for state polls.

MORE TO COME