Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi takes oath for second term as Johor Menteri Besar after BN’s landslide win in the 16th state election.
JOHOR BAHRU: Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi was sworn in as Johor Menteri Besar for a second term today following Barisan Nasional’s (BN) landslide victory in the 16th Johor state election.
Onn Hafiz arrived at Istana Bukit Serene at about 3.41pm in a black Audi before taking his oath of office before the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, during the swearing-in ceremony.
He later left the palace at about 4.50pm after completing the ceremony.
The Johor Palace had earlier announced that the swearing-in ceremony for the new Menteri Besar would be held at Istana Bukit Serene at 3pm today.
Earlier today, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, granted an audience to BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at Istana Pasir Pelangi.
The meeting, which lasted nearly an hour, was also attended by Onn Hafiz, who is the Johor BN chairman.
Onn Hafiz’s reappointment comes after BN secured a commanding victory in the state election, winning 48 of the 56 state seats to retain control of the Johor government with a stronger mandate.
The 46-year-old also successfully defended the Machap state seat, which he has represented since 2022.
This marks the second time Onn Hafiz has been entrusted to lead Johor after he was first appointed as the state’s 19th Menteri Besar in March 2022 following BN’s victory in the previous state election.
He succeeded Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad and took his oath of office before the then Sultan of Johor, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, who is now the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The latest appointment strengthens Onn Hafiz’s position as head of the Johor state administration following BN’s improved performance compared with the 2022 state election, when the coalition won 40 seats.
