Choose someone young, Hasni says on Johor MB candidate

Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Hasni Mohammad today suggested that a young candidate be chosen to lead the state despite being named by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as the coalition’s choice of menteri besar during the campaign period for the polls.

In a statement, he said he appreciated the trust placed in him throughout the election which saw BN sweeping 40 of the 56 seats in the legislative assembly.

“Given the support and position of the youth who play an important role in the development of Johor, and for the sake of the long-term prosperity of the state, I suggest that the party leaders choose a young person to lead,” he added.

Hasni had contested and won the Benut state seat in the March 12 election in Johor.

He said earlier today that Zahid would have an audience this afteroon with Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar on the appointment of the menteri besar.

“This is the normal process. After the Election Commission has announced the election results, the (Umno) president will have an audience (with the sultan),” he told reporters when met at the Johor Umno headquarters.

He later said that Sultan Ibrahim would decide on the menteri besar candidate this evening.

Hasni, who had been Johor menteri besar since February 2020, said in his statement that the Johor government under his leadership had done its best to make the state resilient in facing the challenges of Covid-19.

“Insha Allah under the new leadership, Johor will become more prosperous,” he added.