KUALA LUMPUR – Former Johor menteri besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad has reportedly called on the top leadership of Barisan Nasional (BN) to opt for a younger individual to lead the state following the coalition’s victory in the state polls on Saturday.
The Benut assemblyman, who is the Johor BN chairman, reasoned that his suggestion is in light of the vital support that young people provide in the development of the state.
“In view of the support and standing of (the) youth which are important for the development of Johor, and for the prosperity of the state in the long term, I suggest that the top leadership of the party chooses young people to lead the state of Johor,” he said in a statement making rounds on social media.
The reported remarks have gone viral and been reported by several news portals.
It is understood that Hasni may be referring to Umno’s Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, 43, who is seen as among the favourites for the chief minister’s seat.
Onn, who is the Machap assemblyman, is a former youth and sports executive councillor in the previous state government under Hasni.
He is the grandson of the late former prime minister Tun Hussein Onn and nephew of current Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
Another name speculated to be in the running for menteri besar is Umno Supreme Council member and Rengit assemblyman Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi.
It is learnt that Puad is a personal pick of Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in an effort to exert greater control of Umno nationwide.
Earlier today, Hasni, who is also state Umno chief, had said that Zahid would be having an audience with the Sultan of Johor on the choice of the next chief minister.
“It will all depend on the decision this evening,” he was reported by Bernama as saying to reporters at the Johor Umno building.
However, Zahid was later reported to have remained silent after the audience with the sultan this afternoon when approached by reporters.
He was seen accompanied by Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and Hasni at the state party building.
The leaders then left the building again without speaking to the press, just half an hour later.
BN won the state election with a more than two-thirds majority, sweeping 40 of the 56 seats up for grabs. – The Vibes, March 14, 2022
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