Onn Hafiz: Fight graft, don't weaponise institutions for political gain

Johor's Chief Minister, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, emphasized that anti-corruption measures must be fair and consistent, emphasizing that no government agency or institution should be used as a political weapon. Responding to a student's question during the International Young Future Leaders Summit 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, the student representative cited reports of a politician's son receiving RM4 million and the Tabung Haji scandal, as well as public donations to former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, considering his conviction in the 1MDB case.

She questioned how young leaders could address corruption and feudalism while fostering critical thinking and evidence-based arguments.

Onn Hafiz described the recent events as "political persecution" and "selective persecution," asserting that such practices were unfair and inconsistent with the law's application regardless of political affiliations. He cautioned against using government agencies for political gain, stressing that public institutions must remain independent of partisan interests.

Onn Hafiz warned that integrity is fundamental to leadership, warning that corruption and abuse of power are a betrayal of public trust. As a Muslim leader, he warned that such betrayals would not only be answerable to the public but to Allah in the future. The summit, themed "Redefining Future Leaders Through Value-Based Leadership," brought together 1,231 student leaders from 20 Malaysian universities and 30 international universities, providing a platform for dialogue between student leaders and leaders from government, industry, and academia.