What was ordered wasn’t what was delivered: Zahid on Johor MB fiasco
Has Datuk Hasni Mohammad always been Umno’s first and only choice for Johor menteri besar?
(The Vibes) – This appears to be the case, going by the snide remarks made by party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
In a thinly veiled message during his policy speech at Umno’s general assembly today, Zahid appears to have indicated that Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, despite being appointed to the state’s top post, was not the party’s pick.
Speaking before thousands of delegates at the Umno headquarters here, the party president, while expressing his gratitude to members who have contributed to the party’s win in the Melaka and Johor elections, gave special recognition to Hasni.
“I would like to offer my special gratitude to the Umno Johor liaison chief (Hasni),” he said to a standing ovation from the crowd.
“Although we ordered one item online, the item that arrived was different. Despite this, he (Hasni) will always be the pride of Umno.”
While not making any direct reference, his remark about the menteri besar appears to insinuate that the appointment of Onn Hafiz was beyond the party’s control.
Before and during the campaigning period in Johor, Umno leaders have, on several occasions, confirmed that Hasni would continue to lead the state if the party wins the polls as its “poster boy”.
However, much to the surprise of many, 43-year-old Onn Hafiz, the grandson of the late former prime minister Tun Hussein Onn, was instead appointed to helm the Johor government on March 15.
Speculation arose on how his appointment had to do with the cordial relationship Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim shares with Onn Hafiz during the latter’s time as state youth and sports exco.
It is also understood that some within the state palace were not too pleased with Hasni’s decision to hold off the new sea reclamation project off the coast of Muar.
