Johor caretaker Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi has ruled out the possibility of Barisan Nasional (BN) forming a state government with DAP, even if the coalition secures a renewed mandate in the upcoming state election.
He said Johor currently enjoys political stability under a single-coalition administration, adding that BN’s decision to contest all 56 state seats is based on ideological differences between the two parties.
“We maintain the ‘Johor way’ of governance, and the current BN-led administration has delivered a stable and widely accepted mandate.
“One of the main reasons BN does not want to work with DAP in Johor is because their ideology is not aligned with the Johor way,” he said during an interview with selected Johor media members at his official residence in Saujana yesterday.
Johor’s political landscape differs from Putrajaya
Onn Hafiz said Johor’s political circumstances differ significantly from those at the federal level, where coalition arrangements were formed after no single bloc secured a parliamentary majority.
According to him, the Unity Government in Putrajaya emerged from the electoral outcome at the time and should not be viewed as a model for Johor.
“What happened in Putrajaya was due to the electoral outcome at that time, where no party had a clear majority. That is why the unity government had to happen,” he said.
“In Johor, it is different. We have 40 out of 56 seats, and we continue to receive a strong mandate from the people.”
Professional cooperation with federal leaders continues
Despite his remarks about not wanting to “sit at the same table” with DAP, Onn Hafiz clarified that this should not be interpreted as a refusal to work with federal leaders on administrative matters.
He cited his recent participation in a federal programme involving Transport Minister Anthony Loke as an example of continued professional cooperation despite political differences.
“At the state level, we have a job to do. We will continue to work professionally with any federal minister,” he said.
The Johor BN chairman also revealed that some engagements had been affected by delays in formal correspondence, but stressed the importance of proper documentation to ensure smooth coordination.
“Sometimes these things may look small, but as a professional government, having things in black and white is important for preparation and clarity,” he said.
Calls for continuity and disciplined politics
Responding to criticism over BN’s decision to contest all 56 state seats, Onn Hafiz said political leaders should remain disciplined and uphold Johor’s governance culture.
“We can choose to respond in the same manner, or we can do it the Johor way. We could be rough, but that is not our way,” he said.
He added that he was unfazed by political attacks and believed leadership should be guided by composure rather than confrontation.
“I continue to smile. I won’t lose sleep over it,” he said.
Defending his position, Onn Hafiz said his views on governance were the result of careful consideration and reflected what he believed to be the sentiments of the majority of Bangsa Johor.
“This is something I have thought long and hard about. In my heart, I believe it is also what the majority of Bangsa Johor think,” he said.
He added that the current BN-led administration had demonstrated both performance and stability and should be allowed to continue implementing its agenda.
“We are not a perfect government. I admit our weaknesses, but we will continue to improve,” he said, adding that continuity remains important to sustain ongoing development plans.
