JOHOR BARU: One of the main reasons Barisan Nasional does not want to work with DAP in Johor is that the party’s ideology is not aligned with the Johor way, says Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
The Caretaker Mentri Besar stressed that their way and political ideology were very different.
“What happened in Putrajaya is because of a royal decree at that time as no one party had the majority of seats in Parliament. That is why the Unity Government had to happen.
“In Johor, this is not like that as we have 40 out of the 56 seats and we continue to get a strong mandate from the people,” he said during a special media interview at his official residence, Saujana, on Wednesday (June 17).
He assured that they would continue to govern as best as they could and continue to improve on their weaknesses.
“I am not saying that we are a perfect government. I admit our weaknesses but we will continue to make it better.
“To prove a point, when invited yesterday, I went even when the invitation was done via the media,” he said, explaining about the invitation from Transport Minister Anthony Loke to attend a shuttle service between Kulai and Johor Baru, which was held on Tuesday.
He stressed that it was not personal.
“At the state level, we have a job to do. We will continue to work professionally with any federal minister,” he explained.
Asked if the official invite had finally come, he said that it arrived on Sunday (June 14).
“Sometimes these kinds of things may look small and petty but as a professional government, having something in black and white is important as we want to know the itinerary and the details to make the necessary preparations,” he added.
Asked about attacks on him after he announced that Johor Barisan would contest all 56 seats and would not share a table with DAP in the government, he said choosing how to respond was important to him.
“Whether we also want to indulge in that way, or we do it the Johor way. We can also be rough too, but it's not nice and not our way,” he explained, adding that he continued to smile and did not lose sleep over it.
When asked whether his statement of not working with DAP was something planned or just came out due to the reaction of the crowd, he said that it was something that he had thought long and hard about, which he believed in his heart.
“This is also what a majority of Bangsa Johor are thinking about as the government that I'm leading now is made up of 100% Barisan Nasional, which is something that is accepted by the majority of people here.
“So, why fix something that's not broken?” he reiterated his stand that what he meant by not sitting on the same table was about not forming the state government with DAP.
Asked about advice from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Johor Regent after the dissolution of the state assembly, he said that they reminded him of the need to be mindful and proper when campaigning.
He said that there was a need to show respect to each other despite differences in opinion.
“No need to spew insults on anyone. Tuanku has decreed that everyone behave properly during the election season,” he added.
