ISKANDAR PUTERI, June 4 — The Johor state government has spent more than RM66 million to strengthen the state's public health sector over the past four years of its administration.

Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said this allocation was distributed to ensure the welfare and health of approximately four million people in the state continue to be preserved.

He said the state government cannot remain silent and must always prioritise public health issues because they involve the lives of the people.

“If following the old way, the state government would not need to channel more than RM66 million to the Johor State Health Department (JKNJ). However, when it involves the lives of nearly four million Johor citizens, we cannot turn a blind eye and a deaf ear.

“That's why I have never hesitated to get involved in strengthening the JKNJ, and I will continue to pay attention to the public health sector in this state,” he said.

He said this while officiating the state-level Nurses' Day Celebration, in Johor at the Sunway Big Box Hotel here today, which was also attended by the Johor health director Dr. Mohtar Pungut.

Onn Hafiz said the state government will also continue to help find solutions to the issue of healthcare workforce shortages, particularly involving nurses and doctors in Johor.

“In Johor, we know there is a shortage of nurses and doctors. We will work together to find the best methods to ensure these vacancies are filled promptly,” he said.

In the same event, Onn Hafiz also announced the allocation of RM500,000 to nurses in the state as a token of appreciation for their services and sacrifices, in addition to RM100,000 to medical assistants in the state.

He also said this move represents the state's continuous efforts to strengthen appreciation for healthcare workers by increasing allocations to nurses and medical assistants as recognition of their contributions to the healthcare sector.

He added that the allocation to the nurses in the state has shown a continuous increase since 2023, namely RM200,000 in the first year, RM300,000 in the following year and RM400,000 in 2025. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 — DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke fired back at Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) chief Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi after the latter declared he would rather resign than cooperate with DAP in forming the next Johor state government.

The exchange erupted after Onn Hafiz declared during the launch of the party’s election machinery in EduCity, Iskandar Puteri earlier today that “I would rather not hold the position of Menteri Besar than have to sit at the same table with them. This is the spirit of Johor, Bangsa Johor”. 

“You don’t want to sit at the same table with DAP…… Great! Keep up your arrogance,” Loke responded on Facebook, in a post that has since gone viral.

“But your president sits next to the DAP secretary-general every week, right… just so you know… thank you!” he added, in a pointed reminder that at the federal level, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi sits alongside DAP leaders in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Cabinet.

The war of words underscores the widening gap between federal and state political realities in Johor. 

While DAP and Umno are coalition partners in the unity government, Onn Hafiz has made clear that the arrangement does not extend to Johor.

Onn Hafiz insisted his stance was not driven by racial sentiment, as some have alleged, but rooted in Johor’s unique multiracial identity under the Bangsa Johor concept. 

He also claimed BN Johor has never sat at the same table with DAP, though he acknowledged that a previous menteri besar from Bersatu had done so.

The Johor legislative assembly was dissolved on June 1, paving the way for a state election that must be held within 60 days.

This round, BN is seeking a stronger mandate than its 2022 state election performance and has pledged to contest all 56 seats.

Onn Hafiz, who is caretaker menteri besar, has pledged to continue the Bantuan Kasih Johor assistance scheme if BN retains power.

At the time of dissolution, the division in the legislative assembly had BN holding 40 seats, followed by Pakatan Harapan (12), Perikatan Nasional (three), and Muda (one).

 

PETALING JAYA, June 7 — Caretaker Johor menteri besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has declared he would not remain in office if Barisan Nasional (BN) were to form a state government with DAP.

Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported that the statement was made during the launch of BN’s election machinery in Iskandar Puteri, where he rejected suggestions that support for BN would translate into backing for DAP, describing the claim as “slander”.

“I would rather not hold the position of menteri besar or sit at the same table with them. This is the spirit of Johor, the Bangsa Johor spirit,” he was quoted as saying.

He said that when the state government is reformed with the consent of the Sultan of Johor and the Regent of Johor, and BN is given the mandate to lead again, it would not at any time form a government with DAP.

According to the report, Onn Hafiz, who also chairs Johor BN, said he had been directed by party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to seek feedback from divisions before the coalition’s election plan was finalised.