Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi publicly called for UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to resign after Barisan Nasional's poor showing in the 15th General Election (GE15). BN won only 30 seats, prompting internal calls for Zahid's departure similar to Najib Razak’s exit after GE14 [1, 2].
Following backlash, Onn Hafiz received private counsel from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia and Sultan of Johor, along with the state's Regent, Tunku Mahkota Ismail. They told him his remarks had gone too far and advised him to apologise and reconcile with Zahid [1, 2].
Onn Hafiz then personally met Zahid and apologised without reservation. "I apologised if my remarks had hurt his feelings in any way. Alhamdulillah, I think he forgave me," he said [1, 2]. He added, "They told me it was okay to apologise and to go and see my president. We have a state to run" and "As far as party relations and administrative matters are concerned, the issue is now considered settled" [1, 2].
In a May 26 podcast, Onn Hafiz credited his apology and avoidance of disciplinary action to the Johor palace’s advice and his own prayers. "At that time, I received advice from the Johor palace. And I also prayed a lot," he said on the Keluar Sekejap podcast's 200th episode [2].
Podcast co-host Shahril Hamdan noted Onn Hafiz was the first UMNO leader to call for Zahid's resignation after GE15 and was not disciplined. In contrast, Shahril himself was suspended after making similar remarks. "You were the first to say it. I was only the second, and I was the one who got suspended," Shahril said [1, 2].
Onn Hafiz’s apology and reconciliation with Zahid took place amid efforts to steady UMNO and maintain Johor’s state governance after GE15’s electoral setbacks. The dialogue with the Johor palace and Zahid followed the election results that showed BN winning just 30 seats in the parliamentary contest [1, 2].
