Onn Hafiz denies Puad Zarkashi's statement, Johor Umno to make police report

JOHOR Umno chief Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has firmly rejected claims that the Johor palace directed the dissolution of the state legislative assembly, describing the allegation as a distortion of the constitutional process.

The Johor caretaker Menteri Besar was responding to remarks by former Rengit assemblyman Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, who had suggested that the state assembly was dissolved on the instructions of the Johor palace.

Onn Hafiz said the dissolution, announced on June 1, was carried out only after obtaining the consent of the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, in accordance with the state’s constitutional provisions.

He stressed that a Menteri Besar does not possess unilateral authority to dissolve the assembly, as the process is governed by the Johor Constitution and requires royal assent before taking effect.

“I categorically deny Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi’s allegation. The dissolution was carried out after receiving the consent of the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, in line with Article 23 of Part Two of the Johor Constitution of 1895,” he said in a statement today.

According to Onn Hafiz, he had personally presented the matter to the Regent before publicly announcing the dissolution to the people.

He emphasised that obtaining royal consent is a constitutional requirement and should not be interpreted as an instruction or political intervention by the palace.

“The constitutional process of seeking royal assent must not be twisted into a narrative suggesting that the Royal Institution interfered in political decisions made by Johor Umno,” he said.

Onn Hafiz said while Puad was entitled to leave Umno and hold differing views from the party leadership, statements involving the monarchy carried serious implications and could touch on sensitive 3R issues involving race, religion and royalty.

He warned that such claims could undermine public harmony and create unnecessary misunderstandings regarding the role of the Royal Institution.

As a result, Johor Umno will lodge a police report to allow the authorities to investigate the matter and determine whether further action is warranted.

Onn Hafiz also urged all parties to respect the monarchy, uphold the Federal Constitution and the Johor Constitution, and refrain from dragging the Royal Institution into political disputes. – June 25, 2026