Onn Hafiz says open debates not Johor’s way after offer from Maszlee Malik

SIMPANG RENGGAM, June 28 — Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has reportedly said open debates between candidates may not be suitable for the Johor state election, adding that they could disrupt the harmony of the campaign period.

According to Buletin TV3, he said Johor’s political culture has long placed importance on decorum, restraint and orderly debate, rather than open exchanges that could turn confrontational.

“I see that our way in Johor is not to argue or debate openly. If we look at the state assembly sitting, it is not like that. It is harmonious, orderly and observes decorum,” he was quoted as saying at the Prison Family Day programme in Kampung Paya Mas today.

He added that open debates could sometimes draw supporters who were more emotional than the candidates themselves, making them unsuitable in the context of an election campaign.

This comes after Pakatan Harapan’s candidate for the Puteri Wangsa seat, Datuk Maszlee Malik, had expressed his willingness to debate any party, particularly Onn Hafiz, during the Johor campaign period.