No need for dialogue, I’m not standing against you, Onn Hafiz tells Maszlee

Johor BN chief Onn Hafiz Ghazi (left) said the proposal to debate former education minister Maszlee Malik has nothing to do with his Machap seat.

BATU PAHAT: Johor Barisan Nasional chief Onn Hafiz Ghazi sees no need for him to hold a dialogue with Maszlee Malik as he is not challenging the former education minister in the state election.

The menteri besar said Maszlee should debate with those vying for the Puteri Wangsa seat instead.

Maszlee is one of the five candidates for the seat in the July 11 polls. The others are Rashifa Aljuneid (Muda), Teow Chia Ling (BN), Nicholas Paul Vincent (Bersama) and independent candidate Wang Wee Siong.

Onn Hafiz is defending the Machap seat.

“So what has it (the debate) got to do with my constituency?” he told reporters while on the campaign trail in Semerah here today.

Onn Hafiz had previously turned down the challenge to debate Maszlee, stating that it was not the “Johor way” to engage in verbal sparring or hold open debates.

Last night, he informed the organisers – Radio Television Malaysia, Astro Awani, and Sinar Harian – he would not be available for a dialogue scheduled for tomorrow due to prior commitments.

The organisers said the dialogue would go on with other panellists.

Onn Hafiz also took a swipe at Maszlee, the former MP for  Simpang Renggam, saying constituents there are still waiting for the promises he had pledged to be fulfilled.

Among the promises was abolishing the Simpang Renggam toll.

“Till today, he has yet to make it happen,” he said.