Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi explaining about his plans for the state since taking office earlier this year. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and Parti Amanah Nasional's Aminulhoda Hassan will lead the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan election machinery respectively for the Mahkota state by-election.
This was announced in a statement on Tuesday (Aug 27) night by Unity Government Secretariat chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki after Barisan and Pakatan party leaders met to finalise issues pertaining to the Sept 28 polls.
"The Unity Government Secretariat fully supports the Barisan candidate who will be named for the Mahkota state by-election.
"All Barisan and Pakatan parties' machinery will be deployed to face the state by-election.
"The head of the state by-election (under the unity government) would be Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi while the coordinator for the machinery of Pakatan would be Aminolhuda Hassan.
"The meeting also viewed the 3R (race, religion and royalty) issues seriously and stressed that the unity government would continue to be loyal and uphold the position of the Malay Rulers as per the Federal Constitution," said Asyraf.
The Mahkota state seat fell vacant following the death of its incumbent, Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, on Aug 2.
In the Johor state election in 2022, Sharifah Azizah, who was the Kluang Wanita Umno chief, won with a 5,166-vote majority, defeating Muhammad Tagiuddin Cheman of Pakatan, Mohamad Nor Lingan (Perikatan Nasional) and Mohamed Noor Suleiman (Warisan).
The Election Commission has set Sept 28 as polling day for the by-election in Johor, while the nomination and early voting dates are Sept 14 and 24, respectively.
