PENGERANG: Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says Johor ultimately benefitted more after Onn Hafiz Ghazi was appointed menteri besar following the 2022 state election, despite Hasni Mohammad being the coalition’s poster boy at the time.
Speaking at an event organised by the South East Johor Development Authority here today, Zahid recalled how Hasni had led BN into the 2022 Johor election as its menteri besar candidate.
He said Hasni was a good leader who served Johor with dedication and developed various plans for the state.
However, Zahid said any appointment as menteri besar was ultimately subject to the Johor ruler’s consent.
“At that time, Hasni was a good leader. I acknowledge that. But with Tuanku’s consent, Onn Hafiz was appointed Johor menteri besar,” he said.
He compared the outcome to online shopping, saying someone might order one item but receive another instead.
“With modern technology, we don’t even have to go to shopping malls to buy things. We can buy things online. I ordered one item, but another item arrived. This item is better than the other,” he said.
Hasni was BN’s poster boy for the 2022 Johor election and was widely expected to remain menteri besar if the coalition won.
BN went on to secure a commanding victory, but Onn Hafiz was appointed menteri besar instead.
Zahid said the state government under Onn Hafiz had shown strong leadership since he took office, adding that while continuity was important, the appointment of the menteri besar must also respect the Johor ruler’s constitutional role.
