PUTRAJAYA, June 8 — Pakatan Harapan leaders today cautioned politicians against making overly rigid political declarations, amid continuing exchanges over caretaker Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi’s remarks that he would rather relinquish his post than sit at the same table as DAP.
Speaking at a joint press conference after the Ministerial Dialogue and Media Roundtable on Safe and Responsible Suicide Reporting at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil appeared to urge restraint in political rhetoric.
“Terlajak kata, buruk padahnya,” he said, invoking a Malay proverb that warns of the consequences of careless speech.
Fahmi, who is also Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) communications director, did not elaborate further, but his remarks came amid debate over statements made by leaders from both Barisan Nasional (BN) and PH regarding cooperation between the two coalitions.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad, who was seated alongside Fahmi at the press conference, said politicians should avoid closing off future possibilities.
“In politics, we must allow for all possibilities. We must allow for anything,” said the Amanah vice-president.
“Don’t burn bridges.”
Dzulkefly added that political leaders should avoid taking extreme or inflexible positions, noting that circumstances could change over time.
“Love in moderation, hate in moderation, because we do not know what fate awaits us in the future.
“Do not be too extreme and inflexible. Do not be too rigid. We do not know what Allah has determined for us in the future,” he said.
The comments follow a war of words sparked by Onn Hafiz’s remarks over the weekend, when the Johor Umno chairman said he would rather give up the menteri besar’s post than sit at the same table with DAP.
His statement drew a response from Transport Minister and DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, who pointed out that Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi sits alongside DAP leaders in federal Cabinet meetings every week as part of the unity government.
Onn Hafiz then sought to draw a distinction between Johor politics and federal-level cooperation, saying the political dynamics in the state differ from those in Putrajaya.
BN and PH jointly formed the federal unity government following the 2022 general election.