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OPINION | The "Onn Hafiz Is A Racist" Narrative is going To Cost BN Substantially In The Johor Election
14 Jun 2026 • 4:30 PM MYT
Image credit: Malay Mail
When caretaker Johor MB Onn Hafiz said that he would rather resign than "sit at the same table with DAP", was he being racist?
Let us not talk about the truth - let us just talk about the perception instead- instead of trying to figure out what was exactly in the heart and mind of Onn Hafiz, let us study instead just how the statement makes Onn Hafiz look in the eyes of the non-Malay, especially Chinese, voters.
Perception wise, I for one feel that the statement "will not sit in the same table as DAP" to be so impactful, that since hearing about it, I have been moved to make a couple of post about it already.
If Onn had just said that forming unity goverment with DAP is off the table, that would have sounded like a political position. But when he said that he will not "sit in the same table with DAP", unfortunately, it took a racial slant, regardless of whether Onn meant it that way or not. It definitely took a racial slant to me, and I am sure that it took a racial slant to the non-Malays, especially Chinese voters, even if BN and Onn are trying hard to make it sound as if the statement was about DAP rather than the non-Malays.
It is precisely because it took a racial slant that when political commentator Tajuddin Rasdi called out Onn's statement as racist, it created such an impact, that Onn, as well BN politicians like Wee Ka Siong and Chua Soi Lek are bending over backwards to deny that Onn is racist.
Will the denial be able to offset the view the view that Onn, and thus BN Johor by extension, is racist?
So far, my short answer will be no.
Right now, the idea that Onn hafiz is racist might not have made such a deep impact in the hearts and mind of the non-Malay, especially Chinese, voters.
However, during the campaign period, if rival politicians were to repeat the idea that Onn Hafiz has insulted the non-Malays, especially the Chinese, by saying that he won't even sit in the same table with DAP, likely because DAP represent the non-Malays and the Chinese, it will definitely make a significant impact in the heart and mind of the non-Malay, especially Chinese, Johor voters.
How significant an impact will it create?
Well, i think it will create a big enough impact that when a non-Malay, especially a Chinese voter, were to stand in front of the ballot box, and if so happens that the said voter doesn't see that big a difference between the BN candidate and other candidates, what Onn Hafiz said might reverberate so loudly in their heart and mind, that they will likely to vote against the BN candidate.
In a closely fought contest, that could impact BN decisively.
The impact will be most severely felt in constituencies where the main contest is between MCA and DAP.
MCA is already the underdog in its contest with DAP. With Onn Hafiz's "I will not sit at the same table with DAP" hanging like an albatross around their neck, MCA's chances of victory will go from low to nil.
As for Johor BN, we must remember that Johor BN's decision to call elections early and contest in all seats, without coming with a seat sharing arrangement with PH, is a sign of confidence.
BN has 40 of the 56 seats in the Johor state assembly.
Considering its confidence, it must come out of this election holding at least the 40 seat it has previously won in order to be declared the winner.
Out of the 40 seat it has won, 4 belongs to MCA and 3 to MIC.
The 7 seats held by MCA and MIC are at risk because of Onn Hafiz's statement.
In the remaining 33 seats held by Umno, BN might also face strong challenge from a resurgent PAS, that has shed its debilitating partnership with Bersatu and created a more viable alternative, with Dr Ahmad Samsuri and perhaps Hamzah Zainuddin, at the helm.
Where Umno faces fierce competition with PAS for the Malay vote, non-Malay vote might play a very important role in determining who the final winner is going to be.
When the battle is to be decided by how the non-Malay votes sway, Umno might find itself in trouble because of what Onn Hafiz said.
BN might just just need 29 seats to win the Johor election.
Considering that it has 40 and considering that it has a good track record of managing Johor, it will most likely win the minimum 29 seats it needs to continue ruling johor.
But if BN just comes out of the Johor election with just 29 seats, it will still be seen as as a loser even if it manages to form the goverment.
The perception that it is a loser, will most heavily affect the chances of Onn Hafiz to continue as the Menteri Besar of Johor.
Let us not talk about the truth - let us just talk about the perception instead- instead of trying to figure out what was exactly in the heart and mind of Onn Hafiz, let us study instead just how the statement makes Onn Hafiz look in the eyes of the non-Malay, especially Chinese, voters.
Perception wise, I for one feel that the statement "will not sit in the same table as DAP" to be so impactful, that since hearing about it, I have been moved to make a couple of post about it already.
If Onn had just said that forming unity goverment with DAP is off the table, that would have sounded like a political position. But when he said that he will not "sit in the same table with DAP", unfortunately, it took a racial slant, regardless of whether Onn meant it that way or not. It definitely took a racial slant to me, and I am sure that it took a racial slant to the non-Malays, especially Chinese voters, even if BN and Onn are trying hard to make it sound as if the statement was about DAP rather than the non-Malays.
It is precisely because it took a racial slant that when political commentator Tajuddin Rasdi called out Onn's statement as racist, it created such an impact, that Onn, as well BN politicians like Wee Ka Siong and Chua Soi Lek are bending over backwards to deny that Onn is racist.
Will the denial be able to offset the view the view that Onn, and thus BN Johor by extension, is racist?
So far, my short answer will be no.
Right now, the idea that Onn hafiz is racist might not have made such a deep impact in the hearts and mind of the non-Malay, especially Chinese, voters.
However, during the campaign period, if rival politicians were to repeat the idea that Onn Hafiz has insulted the non-Malays, especially the Chinese, by saying that he won't even sit in the same table with DAP, likely because DAP represent the non-Malays and the Chinese, it will definitely make a significant impact in the heart and mind of the non-Malay, especially Chinese, Johor voters.
How significant an impact will it create?
Well, i think it will create a big enough impact that when a non-Malay, especially a Chinese voter, were to stand in front of the ballot box, and if so happens that the said voter doesn't see that big a difference between the BN candidate and other candidates, what Onn Hafiz said might reverberate so loudly in their heart and mind, that they will likely to vote against the BN candidate.
In a closely fought contest, that could impact BN decisively.
The impact will be most severely felt in constituencies where the main contest is between MCA and DAP.
MCA is already the underdog in its contest with DAP. With Onn Hafiz's "I will not sit at the same table with DAP" hanging like an albatross around their neck, MCA's chances of victory will go from low to nil.
As for Johor BN, we must remember that Johor BN's decision to call elections early and contest in all seats, without coming with a seat sharing arrangement with PH, is a sign of confidence.
BN has 40 of the 56 seats in the Johor state assembly.
Considering its confidence, it must come out of this election holding at least the 40 seat it has previously won in order to be declared the winner.
Out of the 40 seat it has won, 4 belongs to MCA and 3 to MIC.
The 7 seats held by MCA and MIC are at risk because of Onn Hafiz's statement.
In the remaining 33 seats held by Umno, BN might also face strong challenge from a resurgent PAS, that has shed its debilitating partnership with Bersatu and created a more viable alternative, with Dr Ahmad Samsuri and perhaps Hamzah Zainuddin, at the helm.
Where Umno faces fierce competition with PAS for the Malay vote, non-Malay vote might play a very important role in determining who the final winner is going to be.
When the battle is to be decided by how the non-Malay votes sway, Umno might find itself in trouble because of what Onn Hafiz said.
BN might just just need 29 seats to win the Johor election.
Considering that it has 40 and considering that it has a good track record of managing Johor, it will most likely win the minimum 29 seats it needs to continue ruling johor.
But if BN just comes out of the Johor election with just 29 seats, it will still be seen as as a loser even if it manages to form the goverment.
The perception that it is a loser, will most heavily affect the chances of Onn Hafiz to continue as the Menteri Besar of Johor.
Jason Burke
