THE new Johor Umno leadership today expressed its support for the state government led by Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi. 

Johor Umno liaison committee chairman Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Barisan Nasional formed the existing state government after the Umno-led party won a two-thirds majority in the Johor state polls in March last year. 

“We admit that the existing government is formed by Umno and the existing government also accepts the fact that without Umno, they will not be there. 

“Based on that, the party and the government have agreed to form a joint secretariat between the two parties,” he told reporters after chairing the first liaison committee meeting for the 2023/2026 term at the Johor Umno building today. 

Mohamed Khaled, who is also Umno vice-president, said through the secretariat, the party would be represented by Johor Umno liaison secretary Abdul Halim Suleiman and its information chief Md Jais Sarday. 

The state government would be represented by its agriculture and rural development committee chairman Zahari Sarip; housing and local government committee chairman Mohd Jafni Md Shukor, and youth, sports, entrepreneur development, cooperatives and human resources committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah. 

“These people will sit and discuss matters that they feel are important to strengthen the position of the party and the government so that various measures can be taken for the people’s benefit and well-being and for the state to progress. 

“In the same context, we need to think how both these parties need to have an understanding and a strategic approach to make the relationship work because we cannot run away from the fact that (several) parties are together in the unity government,” said Mohamed Khaled. 

Two days ago, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi hinted that the formation of a unity government that is expected to happen in Malacca may not necessarily occur in other states, including Johor, because the political situation in Malacca differed from those in other states. 

In addition, the Kota Tinggi MP said Johor Umno’s focus for now was to work with leadership at all levels to jointly restore the trust of Malays in Umno.  

“We will make sure that Umno will be able to rise again and we have also formed several bureaus to ensure that Johor Umno achieves its goals and is mobilised effectively,” he said. 

He added that Johor Umno would provide its machinery to help states facing elections. 

“Even though we will not have state polls, we can’t stay silent because during our state polls everyone came to help us. So, this is the time for us to provide our machinery to help out. We will decide later which state to head for,” he said. – Bernama, April 1, 2023.