CARETAKER Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has appealed to Johoreans to return Barisan Nasional to power, arguing that the state's proven record of economic management and people-centric policies provides the strongest case for continuity ahead of the state election.
Speaking during a special interview with The Star at his official residence on Wednesday, Onn Hafiz said Johor's progress was the result of careful planning and collective leadership rather than short-term political decisions, warning that replacing the current administration would risk disrupting ongoing development.
"This was all carefully thought out and done as a team. My concern is, if you switch ships now, you'll waste time starting over."
"This is no time to experiment."
He said the state government had built valuable experience in managing strategic initiatives, particularly the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), maintaining bilateral ties with Singapore and attracting investments from China, Europe and the United States.
Onn Hafiz also dismissed attempts by political opponents to revive issues such as the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal and racial narratives during the election campaign, arguing that voters deserved concrete policy proposals instead of divisive politics.
"Perhaps they have run out of issues. What is their plan for Johor?"
"Who is their MB candidate, and what is their vision for Johor?"
He said responsible political leadership required presenting practical solutions and a clear development agenda rather than "merely spreading hate, lies and inciting the people."
Highlighting his administration's social and economic agenda, Onn Hafiz said Johor had introduced a range of initiatives to ensure ordinary citizens benefited directly from the billions of ringgit in investments entering the state.
He described ‘Bantuan Kasih Johor (BKJ)’ as an immediate cost-of-living measure while pointing to the Baucar Kasih Johor programme, modelled on a similar initiative in Singapore, as an effort to provide affordable, quality food through local authority-managed food courts.
"BKJ is a short-term measure to help the people. We have also introduced the Baucar Kasih Johor initiative at Medan Selera Kampung Melayu Majidee, drawing inspiration from a similar programme in Singapore."
"We are trying to replicate that concept across all local councils so that Johoreans have spots to enjoy affordable, quality and clean food."
Under the pilot programme, each eligible household receives RM200 worth of vouchers to purchase meals at participating food courts.
On housing, Onn Hafiz said the government remained committed to expanding affordable home ownership, particularly for young people, with approximately 25,000 affordable homes completed so far and a target of delivering 100,000 units by 2030.
"So far, we have built about 25,000 affordable homes and are targeting 100,000 units by 2030."
"We also provide rental assistance, with successful applicants receiving RM2,500 annually, and we are even looking at helping with rental deposits."
"For house buyers, we provide RM5,000 in assistance to help cover legal fees and other related costs."
"When they move into their homes, we provide a further RM2,000 in assistance."
He said these initiatives formed part of a broader package of short- and medium-term measures designed to improve affordability, expand home ownership and ensure that Johoreans directly benefit from the state's continued economic growth. - June 19, 2026
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