Pulai by-election: Suhaizan has a track record of being fair, says Onn Hafiz

JOHOR BARU: Despite being in rival parties, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi says Pulai candidate Suhaizan Kaiat - who was the state speaker at the time- was completely impartial over a disciplinary matter he faced.

The Johor Mentri Besar said he had "a special history" with the Johor Amanah vice chairman, which started in 2018 when Barisan Nasional was the Opposition following the 14th General Election.

"I was about to be referred to the disciplinary committee for making statements in the state assembly and was pleading my case.

"Suhaizan decided that I should not be referred to the committee and several procedures (in the action against me) were not followed," he said in his speech during a gotong-royong event at Jalan Simbang in Taman Perling here on Sunday (August 27).

Onn Hafiz, who is also Machap assemblyman, also recalled another incident during the administration of Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad in 2021.

Pakatan was the opposition then and Suhaizan was still the state speaker.

"It was a unique time in Johor. We had a slim majority and the Opposition filed a motion.

"To make it even more difficult, we did not have enough numbers with the late Datuk Osman Sapian was unwell and one assemblyman had Covid-19.

"The vote was deadlocked but Suhaizan voted in favour of the government despite being part of the Opposition," he added.

Onn Hafiz said this showed Suhaizan is a good leader and would do well if the voters in Pulai give him the mandate in the by-election.