After seating spat, Onn Hafiz awaits train ride with Loke

PETALING JAYA: A week after saying he would prefer not to be seated at the same table as the DAP, Onn Hafiz Ghazi has said he is willing to attend the launch of new commuter train service by transport minister Loke Siew Fook, who is DAP secretary-general, but has yet to receive an official invitation from the ministry.

Onn Hafiz, who is menteri besar of the caretaker state government, said he would clear his schedule to attend the launch and accompany Loke on a train ride on Tuesday.

“I await the official invite and details of the programme. The project has been implemented for the convenience of Johor’s people, and not for the sake of political collaboration,” he said in a Facebook post. “There should be no issue or uncertainty about this. Official government work and political collaboration are two different things.”

Last night, in a speech at a party event, Loke had extended an invitation to Onn Hafiz to join him on a train ride to mark the launch of KTM Komuter Selatan’s services from Kulai to Johor Bahru.

His remarks, at the launch of Pakatan Harapan’s Negeri Sembilan election machinery, came two days after Onn Hafiz said he would rather not hold the menteri besar’s post than sit at the same table with DAP.

Onn Hafiz said today he was informed of Loke’s invitation only through the media.

He also said the state government had finally received an invitation for an event planned more than a week ago, and that neither he nor state executive councillors had received invitations to several transport ministry events in Johor, including Loke’s working visit to the RTS Link project site in April.

Onn Hafiz said the Johor state government had not only accepted federal initiatives but also contributed to their success in the state.

He said this included a RM700,000 allocation for train coach beautification work, as well as the provision of shuttle buses with operational costs of around RM86,000.

“This post is not for the state government to claim credit, but to note that it has contributed to the success of federal initiatives. Development projects do not belong to any party, including DAP. They are everyone’s responsibility, and must be implemented professionally for the public benefit,” he said.

Loke had previously called Onn Hafiz arrogant for his remarks about DAP, and reminded him that Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, as deputy prime minister, was part of the federal government as DAP leaders.

Umno and DAP, once bitter rivals, are partners in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government and have cooperated in elections since November 2022.