Loke Reiterates KTM Komuter Selatan Invitation to Onn Hafiz, Defends Johor Transport Cooperation
KUALA LUMPUR: Transport Minister Anthony Loke has renewed his invitation to Johor caretaker Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi to attend the launch of the KTM Komuter Selatan service, while defending the Ministry of Transport’s track record of cooperation and engagement with the Johor state government.
The minister’s response came after Onn Hafiz revealed that he had yet to receive an official invitation to the event despite publicly acknowledging Loke’s earlier invitation and expressing appreciation for the gesture.
In a Facebook post, Loke thanked the Johor Barisan Nasional chairman for his response and welcomed his willingness to join the inaugural train journey.
“Thank you YAB Dato’ Onn Hafiz for your detailed response and for your readiness to accept my invitation to ride the KTM Komuter Selatan,” he wrote.
Loke also took the opportunity to outline a series of transport-related programmes and ceremonies attended by Onn Hafiz over the past few years, saying the examples reflected the close cooperation that had existed between the ministry and the Johor government.
Among the major events highlighted were the RTS Link ceremony jointly witnessed by the prime ministers of Malaysia and Singapore in January 2024, the arrival of the first RTS Link train in Singapore in June 2025, as well as the launch of the ETS3 service and the opening of KTM Kluang station in August 2025.
He also cited the completion ceremony for the Gemas-Johor Baru Electrified Double Track Project and the official launch of ETS services to Johor Baru in December last year.
According to Loke, representatives from the Johor government had also attended several ministry-led programmes, including the signing of the Kluang Heritage Railway Linear Park project, visits to the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) facility, and the reopening of the Pasir Gudang-Kempas Baru railway line.
However, he pointed out that the Johor state government did not send representatives to the launch of the MyLesenB2 programme for school students in Johor Baru earlier this year.
“I understand that election season can be busy. Perhaps some matters slipped through the cracks,” he said.
Loke stressed that a distinction should be made between official events and ordinary working visits, adding that he did not wish to burden the Menteri Besar with attending every ministerial visit to Johor.
“If it is merely one of my working visits, I do not want to take up the Menteri Besar’s valuable time,” he said.
Nevertheless, he assured that an official invitation letter would be sent to Onn Hafiz as soon as possible and that the Johor leader would be given an opportunity to address the gathering at the launch ceremony.
“See you in Kulai on Tuesday,” Loke wrote, ending his message on a cordial note.
In a postscript, the minister also referred to an earlier “dry run” of the Komuter Selatan service involving Johor’s transport exco in March.
He noted that the state representative had boarded the train before the service was officially finalised and that the Ministry of Transport had not been informed beforehand.
“Even then, I did not make an issue out of it,” he said.
The exchange between the two leaders comes amid growing political attention ahead of the Johor state election, which is scheduled to take place on July 11.
Political observers have noted that the discussion reflects the increasingly complex relationship between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan in Johor, despite both coalitions remaining partners in the Federal Unity Government.
The latest development also follows Onn Hafiz’s recent remarks that he would rather relinquish his position as Johor Menteri Besar than sit at the same table with DAP.
In response, Loke had said DAP did not consider anyone an enemy and remained willing to work with different political parties in the interest of the people.
He subsequently extended an open invitation to Onn Hafiz to travel together on the KTM Komuter Selatan service from Kulai to Johor Baru, a gesture he has now formally renewed as both leaders prepare for a politically significant period in Johor.
