Don’t use JS-SEZ issue for your campaign, Anwar tells Onn Hafiz

PETALING JAYA: Johor Barisan Nasional chief and caretaker menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi should not use the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) as campaign material for the Johor election, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar said the project was a federal initiative being implemented in cooperation with the state government.

“The signing (of the agreement) is between the Malaysian and Singaporean prime ministers. It has not reached the menteri besar’s level yet.

“Don’t make this an issue. The project remains ongoing, has a high expenditure, and is receiving assistance from the federal government.

“He hasn’t expressed his appreciation for the project, and now, he’s using the issue to criticise. This is not right and is silly,” Berita Harian reported him as saying after Friday prayers in Kuala Lumpur today.

Yesterday, Onn Hafiz accused the federal government of repeatedly delaying the launch of the master plan for the Johor-Singapore cross-border economic initiative.

In a post on X, he said the plan was initially scheduled for launch at the end of 2025, then rescheduled to March 30 this year (before being postponed), now, it has been postponed again.

He said the plan should be launched without further delay because additional postponements could hamper investor confidence and economic momentum.