Maszlee not up to Onn Hafiz’s standard, says Tok Mat

PETALING JAYA: Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan has rejected the idea of Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi taking part in a dialogue with PKR’s Puteri Wangsa candidate, Maszlee Malik.

Mohamad, also known as Tok Mat, said Maszlee was not up to Onn Hafiz’s standard to be calling for the state Umno chief to join the dialogue, Harian Metro reported.

The Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman said Pakatan Harapan (PH) appeared to be lacking campaign material as it had failed to cast a shadow on the performance of Onn Hafiz’s state administration.

“It’s beyond Maszlee’s level to debate with the menteri besar. He’s better off debating with a division leader instead,” he said.

Maszlee had repeatedly urged Onn Hafiz to take part in a debate or “dialogue” with him, arguing that this would allow Johoreans to hear different views and decide which coalition they should support in the July 11 state election.

Onn Hafiz, the state Umno and BN chief, previously said it was not the “Johor way” to engage in verbal sparring or hold open debates.

He also said a dialogue was unnecessary and that Maszlee should instead debate with those vying against him for the Puteri Wangsa seat.

Onn Hafiz, who was elected in the 2022 state polls, is seeking a second term as Machap assemblyman. He previously represented Layang-Layang from 2018.

Maszlee, meanwhile, is seeking to wrest Puteri Wangsa from Muda, which won the seat in 2022 through an electoral pact with PH.

Maszlee, a former education minister, currently holds no seat, having lost the Simpang Renggam parliamentary seat to former Johor menteri besar Hasni Mohammad in the 2022 general election.