Loke hits back at Onn Hafiz after ‘genuine invitation’ jab

PETALING JAYA: DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook has hit back at Onn Hafiz Ghazi after the Johor menteri besar claimed his administration was not invited to several official transport ministry events in the past three years.

In a cynical dig at the Johor Umno chief, Loke, the transport minister, said he wanted to “refresh Onn Hafiz’s memory” about multiple events he had attended through the years.

They included several events involving the RTS Link project, the launch of the electric train service to Johor Bahru, and the opening of the new Kluang KTM station.

Loke said there were other transport ministry events where the state government sent a representative instead, and even one where an invitation was sent but no representative appeared.

“I understand, it gets busy during election season, so there are things you might have forgotten,” the Seremban MP said sarcastically in a Facebook post.

“Nonetheless, the invitation for the launch of the new KTM Komuter Selatan train service will be sent as soon as possible. See you in Kulai on Tuesday. We will also be inviting you to give a speech.”

The duo had traded barbs after Onn Hafiz said he would rather not hold the menteri besar’s post than “sit at the same table” and work with DAP in the state government.

Loke rebuked Onn Hafiz, pointing out that he (Loke) sits next to Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at Cabinet meetings, signifying the close cooperation between DAP and Umno at the federal level.

On Friday, in a speech at a party event, Loke extended an invitation to Onn Hafiz to join him on a train ride to mark the launch of KTM Komuter Selatan’s service from Kulai to Johor Bahru.

Onn Hafiz said he was willing to attend the launch, quipping that he was “touched by the sincerity”, but had yet to receive the invite.

The Johor Barisan Nasional chief said his administration was “finally being invited although the event was planned more than a week ago”.

He went on to list several ministry events that neither he nor the relevant executive councillor had been invited to from 2023 to 2025.