KLUANG: The Johor menteri besar wants political parties to campaign with decorum and dignity in the Mahkota by-election.
Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said it's important that the 'Johor Way' be preserved.
"It's vital to preserve the unity and respect that Johor is known for, it's the 'Johor Way'," he said at the nomination centre at Dewan Tunku Ibrahim Ismail, here, today (Sept 14).
Onn Hafiz, the Barisan Nasional election director, said the parties' actions would have a lasting impact on the people.
"In Johor, we cultivate the spirit of unity, not division. We must preserve this peace.
"My late grandfather Tun Hussein Onn (Malaysia's third prime minister), who was given the sobriquet Father of Unity, championed national unity.
"Do not take this hard-earned unity for granted. It was built with the sweat and tears of our forebears. Achieving unity can take decades, but division can happen in just one day."
He pointed to previous peaceful election campaigns in Johor.
"In Simpang Jeram and Pulai, the campaigns were conducted without any religious issue or incitement.
"We have succeeded in campaigning with decorum, and I hope this can continue," he said.
Addressing concerns about 3R (race, religion and royalty) issues in the by-election, Onn Hafiz said it's important to avoid sensitive matters and focus instead on what is crucial for Johor's future.
The by-election was triggered by the death of Umno's Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain on Aug 2.
In the 2022 state polls, Sharifah Azizah won the seat for BN in a four-cornered fight by a majority of 5,166 votes.