Johor polls: Umno veteran Shahrir says 'embarassed' Hasni won't be MB

PETALING JAYA: Umno veteran Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad (pic) said he was left embarrassed that Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad would not be nominated for a second term as Johor mentri besar.

Shahrir said Hasni's statement on Monday (March 14) indicated that another younger person would be nominated in his place.

"I feel ashamed about attending the Umno general assembly next week because of this," Shahrir in a Facebook post late Monday night.

"Despite a landslide victory, we cannot name a party leader to head the state government.

"I had laughed at Perikatan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan during the run-up to the Johor elections over their inability to name a prospective menteri besar candidate where Umno had named Hasni for the post," he added.

Shahrir said he had been certain Hasni would be a shoo-in for the post.

There is talk that Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, great-grandson of Umno founder Datuk Onn Jaafar, will be the next Johor mentri besar.

Hasni was expected to be nominated for a second term as mentri besar, but his call on Monday for a younger person to be nominated is being seen as an indication that he is not in the running for the post.

The names of Hasni, Onn and Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi are reported to have been shortlisted for the Mentri Besar's post.

Barisan won 40 of the 56 seats in the Johor state assembly in the election on Saturday (March 12).