Johor Umno treasurer: Let Hasni stay on as MB

KLUANG: Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad should be allowed to continue as Johor Mentri Besar to avoid a backlash from voters, says Johor Umno treasurer Datuk Md Jais Sarday.

He said the voters had believed that he would be appointed to the position and had confidence in his leadership.

Md Jais said it was because of Hasni that Barisan Nasional managed to win 40 seats in the just-concluded state election.

“Any talk to replace Hasni at this juncture will be a disaster for Barisan.

“People voted for a party led by a man with integrity and credibility.

“Johor now has a strong and stable government. What else do people want?” he said in an interview.

During the election, Hasni was touted as the coalition’s poster boy and the candidate for Mentri Besar.

However, talk is now rife that former state executive councillor Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi is also in the running for the post.

Md Jais, who is also Kluang division chairman, said the party should rally behind Hasni who led Barisan to the huge success in the election.

Hasni, said Md Jais, already had a plan to develop the state’s economy and bring about development in Johor.

He was commenting on speculation that a new man would be sworn in as Mentri Besar.

It has been two days after the election and there is still no news of Hasni being sworn in.

Talk is also rife that the swearing-in ceremony has been delayed because someone within the Johor palace is Covid-19 positive.

Md Jais added that Barisan needed to remember that those who supported the opposition in the past now voted for the coalition as it did not “over-promise and under-deliver”.

Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his deputy Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan were seen going to the Johor palace at about 3.15pm yesterday.

Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) political analyst Dr Mohd Akbal Abdullah said any change in Mentri Besar could spark anger towards Umno.

“The people will be angry as they will feel they have been deceived. Umno members will also be angry at the party leadership.”