PETALING JAYA: The unity government has decided that Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi will head the Barisan Nasional election machinery for the Mahkota state by-election, while Amanah’s Aminulhoda Hassan will lead the Pakatan Harapan machinery.
“The unity government secretariat fully supports the Barisan candidate for the Mahkota state by-election. All Barisan and Pakatan parties’ machinery will be deployed for the by-election.
“The head for the by-election will be Onn Hafiz while the coordinator for the machinery from Pakatan will be Aminolhuda,” said secretariat chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki in a statement released after Pakatan and Barisan leaders met on Tuesday night to finalise issues pertaining to the by-election.
Asyraf Wajdi said the meeting also discussed 3R (race, religion and royalty) issues and stressed that the unity government would continue to be loyal and uphold the position of the Malay Rulers as per the Federal Constitution.
The Mahkota state seat fell vacant following the death of its assemblyman Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain on Aug 2.
In the Johor state election in 2022, Sharifah Azizah, who was the Kluang Umno Wanita 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 polling for the Mahkota by-election on Sept 28, with nominations on Sept 14 and early voting on Sept 24.
