Heavyweights out in Machap as Zahid, KJ and Hisham accompany Onn Hafiz

SIMPANG RENGGAM: It was a star-studded affair for Barisan Nasional’s Onn Hafiz Ghazi on nomination day for the Johor state election.

The Johor BN chairman, who will defend the Machap seat, was accompanied by Umno bigwigs, including party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, to the nomination centre.

Also spotted were former Umno Youth chiefs Hishammuddin Hussein and Khairy Jamaluddin as well as former Johor menteri besar Hasni Mohammad.

Hishammuddin and Khairy, who were previously suspended and sacked, respectively, were recently readmitted into Umno under the party’s “Rumah Bangsa” initiative.

BN supporters had gathered outside the coalition’s operations centre as early as 8am before walking to the nomination centre at the Simpang Renggam municipal council building.

Earlier, Pakatan Harapan candidate Nur Hafiz Roslan was accompanied by several Amanah leaders, including vice-president Dr Hatta Ramli, amid shouts of “Reformasi” as he made his way to the nomination centre.

Onn Hafiz won the seat in the last state election with a 6,543-vote majority.

Polling will take place on July 11, with early voting fixed for July 7.