Mahkota polls: Johor MB urges peace and harmony in campaigns

KLUANG: Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has reminded parties contesting in the Mahkota by-election to keep peace and harmony in their campaigns.

He added that the “Johor way” must be maintained, and matters relating to the 3Rs (religion, royalty and race) should not be touched during the 14-day campaign period.

“There have been by-elections in Johor before Mahkota, such as the Simpang Jeram by-election and Pulai by-election, and there was harmony throughout those two by-elections.

“Sensitive matters such as race and religion were not touched in those two by-elections, and I am urging that they continue in the Mahkota by-election,” he added.

Onn Hafiz said this to pressmen at the nomination centre for the Mahkota by-election at Dewan Tunku Ibrahim Ismail here on Saturday (Feb 14).

He added that peace and harmony among the people should always be maintained regardless of political views and support.

Onn Hafiz recalled the words of his late grandfather, Tun Hussein Onn, the country’s third prime minister, who always stressed the importance of unity among the people.

“He (Hussein) always said that the unity that we have now should not be taken for granted. It takes decades to build unity among the people, but it only takes a day to break it,” he added.

Onn Hafiz, who is also Barisan Nasional election director for the Mahkota by-election, said that the state government has many plans for Johor.

“We will highlight what is important during the campaign period, especially what we have done and plan to do for Johor, Kluang and Mahkota.

“I admitted that my government is not perfect, but we are trying our best,” he added.

The Mahkota seat became vacant following the death of its assemblyman, Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, 63, on Aug 2.

According to the Election Commission (EC), the electoral roll for the by-election consists of 66,318 voters, comprising 61,397 ordinary voters, 401 police personnel, 4,510 military personnel and their spouses and 10 absentee voters abroad.

Early voting is scheduled for Sept 24, involving three centres with 11 stations. The main polling day will be on Sept 28, utilising 20 centres and 109 voting stations.