JOHOR BAHRU — The people of Johor are asked to continue to maintain the spirit of Bangsa Johor and strengthen unity with each other so that success can be achieved together and ensure that the harmony and stability of the state is maintained.
This is an important message that Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi wants to convey to the people of Johor ahead of the fourth anniversary of his administration on March 15.
“For Johor to continue to progress, the element of unity of Bangsa Johor is quite important because with unity we will build strength,” he said in an interview with Bernama led by Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj at Saujana, the Official Residence of the Johor Menteri Besar, recently.
He said this when commenting on the factor of Johor being seen to rarely face conflicts related to religion and race compared to several other states recently.
Taking the example of division and chaos that occurred in foreign countries, he said that this only caused the country to lose stability, thus hampering economic and investment opportunities.
Onn Hafiz said the uniqueness of the Bangsa Johor concept founded by the sultanate institution was one of the main factors in the state continuing to maintain racial and religious harmony.
He said the concept of Bangsa Johor, which has existed since 1920, has always emphasised the importance of unity among the multi-racial people who live and earn a living in the state.
He said the sultanate’s institutional approach which has always embraced all levels of society regardless of background has also contributed to the spirit of togetherness that continues to this day.
“However, this harmony cannot be taken for granted and needs to be continuously maintained by all parties.
“That is one of the unique and special things we have been through since the beginning, but we have to preserve it. It is not something that comes by itself. It is something that we need to work on and continue to cooperate to maintain this harmony. Hopefully we can stay like this,” he said.
The concept of Bangsa Johor is a unique identity that has long been intertwined with Johor and its community practices as early as the 1920s when the late Sultan Ibrahim Abu Bakar introduced and used the term.
— BERNAMA
