JOHOR BARU: No PAS members will be appointed as Johor assemblymen should Barisan Nasional return to power, says the coalition's state chief Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
The caretaker Mentri Besar stressed that he was consistent in his stand that there would be no PAS or other Perikatan Nasional members, nor anyone from Pakatan Harapan, in the state government if Barisan gets the mandate to lead once again.
"This has been done before and I will do it again if I am still the Mentri Besar. That is why I need the support of all Bangsa Johor to come and support us so that we can form a strong government," he said during a media interview session at his official residence Saujana here on Thursday (July 9).
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He had been asked to comment on talk that PAS members could come in as appointed assemblymen.
On claims that those who lose in the election can become state executive councillors, he said that under the law, appointed assemblymen cannot be part of the exco.
"I need both (caretaker exco members) Ling Tian Soon and Lee Ting Han in my government," he said, adding that this was among the reasons he could not work with DAP because its politics was about spreading hate, confusion and false promises.
He reiterated that this was not a racial issue but a refusal to accept DAP's style of politics in the state administration.
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Onn Hafiz said some Federal Government policies were also not popular in Johor, and urged Bangsa Johor to use the ballot box to send a strong message to Putrajaya over these "bread and butter issues".
He cited e-invoicing, EPF’s 2% contribution for foreigners, sales and service tax (SST) issues, high diesel prices and capped fuel subsidies as examples of such issues.
"This will also contribute to higher inflation.
"Yes, I know the outcome of the Johor election will not change the Federal Government but Johoreans can send the message to our Prime Minister about the policies that they will not accept," he added.
Johor goes to the polls on Saturday (July 11). Barisan and Pakatan are contesting all 56 seats.
