JOHOR BARU: Young and first-time voters will play a crucial role in the coming Johor state polls, with those under 40 making up nearly half the state’s population.
Caretaker Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi (pic) described them as an important segment to reckon with.
“That is why Barisan Nasional assemblymen have always engaged with them. I am sure they are aware of what we have done at the state level for Bangsa Johor,” he said in a special interview with the media on Wednesday.
Asked about his political focus for the next five years and beyond, he said he preferred to remain and serve in Johor, if permitted.
“I feel that I belong here. I want to serve here and that is my priority,” he added.
Dismissing predictions that a high voter turnout would hurt Barisan’s chances of a big win, he said he hoped Johoreans would come out in full force to vote.
“I am hoping for a high turnout. To me, this is the people’s responsibility. I have done my part leading the state over the past four and a half years.
“I have tried my best and it is now up to the people to decide,” he said, pointing out that Barisan triumphed in the 2004, 2008 and 2013 elections when voter turnout was high.
He acknowledged that Barisan was punished in 2018, however it staged a return in Johor in 2022.
In the last state polls, Barisan secured a two-thirds majority by clinching 40 of the 56 state seats.
Asked if he had set any personal target, Onn Hafiz said maintaining 40 seats would be good.
On being Barisan’s poster boy for the state polls, he said as the Mentri Besar candidate it was natural that he be seen as such, but reminded that who ultimately held the post was determined by the Johor Sultan and Regent.
Asked if Barisan was eyeing certain Opposition seats, Onn Hafiz said the coalition aimed to wrest back as much of the 16 seats it lost.
On his strategy to continue holding on to seats won with slim majorities, he said Barisan would work hard to contest in all areas.
“We cannot take things for granted as people are wise in choosing. Look at what happened in Sabah when DAP got wiped out despite previously winning with big majorities.
“Do not think that places with huge majorities can be perceived as fixed deposits,” he pointed out.
