Johor MB ‘touched’ by Loke’s ‘sincere’ invitation, but says yet to receive formal invite to KTM Komuter launch

KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — Johor caretaker Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said he had yet to receive a formal invitation from the Transport Ministry to attend Tuesday’s launch of the KTM Komuter Selatan service, despite Transport Minister Anthony Loke publicly inviting him to join the journey during a political event.

In a Facebook post late yesterday, Onn Hafiz said he had only learned through media reports that the invitation had been extended during a political event.

“I was only informed by the media that this ‘invitation’ was made during the launch of Pakatan Harapan Negeri Sembilan’s election machinery last night,” he wrote.

“Nevertheless, I am still touched by the ‘sincerity’ of this invitation. At the very least, the Johor government has finally been ‘invited’, even though this programme has been planned for more than a week.”

The exchange comes amid campaigning for the Johor state election, where Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) are expected to contest against one another despite being partners in the federal unity government.

On Friday, Loke, who is also DAP secretary-general, invited Onn Hafiz to sit beside him on the KTM Komuter Selatan service from Kulai to Johor Bahru, days after the Johor BN chairman said he would rather forgo the menteri besar post than sit at the same table with DAP.

“Even though he has said he does not want to sit with DAP, that is alright. I am still extending the invitation for him to sit beside me on the train,” Loke was quoted as saying during PH’s election machinery launch in Negeri Sembilan.

Responding to the invitation, Onn Hafiz said he had no issue attending the programme and would try to make time for it, stressing that the KTM Komuter project was intended to serve the people of Johor rather than any political agenda.

“Official government affairs and political cooperation are two different matters,” he said.

The Johor caretaker menteri besar also said the state government had not been invited to several previous Transport Ministry programmes in the state, including visits to the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex and the ETS Segamat project.

He also pointed to a Transport Ministry visit to the RTS Link project site on April 3, saying the Johor government had again not been invited despite the attendance of several Johor DAP leaders.

“When I contacted senior officials at the ministry, I was informed that invitations were limited to vendors and suppliers. Are these DAP leaders vendors or suppliers?” he asked.

Onn Hafiz said the Johor government had contributed RM700,000 towards beautification works and wrapping the KTM Komuter trains as part of efforts to improve public transport services in the state.

He added that, following a request from KTM, the state government, through the Johor Public Transport Corporation (PAJ), had also agreed to provide feeder bus services at the stations involved, including shuttle services with operating costs estimated at RM86,000.

The state had also coordinated Muafakat Johor bus routes and sponsored seating worth about RM9,000 for passengers, he said.

“This sharing is not intended to ‘claim credit’, but merely to inform the public that the Johor government has also contributed towards making the federal government’s initiative a success,” he said.

“For me, development projects do not belong to any political party, including DAP. Rather, they are the responsibility of all parties entrusted with public office, and we must remain professional in carrying out our duties for the benefit and convenience of the people.”

Johor goes to the polls on July 11, with nomination day set for June 27 and early voting scheduled for July 7.