Johor caretaker menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi has questioned whether the opposition is ready to govern, noting it has yet to name a menteri besar candidate ahead of the state election.
He said political credibility should be judged by leadership capacity rather than rhetoric, and asked, “What can the opposition offer to the people of Johor? They don’t even have a menteri besar candidate.”
Emphasis on feedback and ground engagement
Onn Hafiz said his administration’s performance is continually assessed through multiple feedback channels, including the Johor palace, the rakyat, and on-the-ground engagement.
“We must get feedback from the palace and the people. If both say we are doing well, then only can we consider that we are meeting our key performance indicator (KPI),” he said.
He acknowledged social media is part of public feedback but warned it can be distorted by fake accounts, making direct engagement with voters essential. “That is why our fully-led BN state government representatives go down to the ground. We cannot rely solely on online voices,” he said.
Delivery mindset and governance priorities
Describing his administration’s approach as a continuous delivery mindset, Onn Hafiz said every day is “Day 100,” with no waiting period for political milestones. He added that Johor had built strong momentum over four years of governance.
He said the state’s long-term vision remains anchored on the Maju Johor 2030 agenda, focusing on translating economic gains into tangible benefits for the rakyat. “Numbers are not enough. What matters is how it trickles down to the rakyat,” he said, citing various welfare initiatives under the Johor administration.
On political conduct, Onn Hafiz said he had received reminders from the Johor palace about maintaining decorum in politics. He quoted Sultan Ibrahim and Tunku Mahkota Ismail, the Regent of Johor, urging that “Johor must remain Johor,” and called on politicians to avoid insults and personal attacks.
“There must be no shouting matches, no insults, no character assassination. This is not a zoo,” he said.
On candidate selection, Onn Hafiz said Barisan Nasional will prioritise winnability and service capability over age or background. “The main factor is not young or old. It is whether they can serve the rakyat,” he said, and confirmed the final list of candidates would be decided by party leadership, with announcements expected soon.
Despite intensifying competition, he expressed confidence that Johor voters would judge performance and stability. “We have done our best. Now it is for the people to decide,” he added.
Onn Hafiz made the remarks to selected Johor media at the menteri besar’s official residence in Saujana.
Johor polling day is set for July 11, with nomination day on June 27 and early voting on July 7.
