ISKANDAR PUTERI, Oct 20 — Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) will use the momentum from its decisive state poll in March through to the 15th general election next month, said Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

He said he was confident the coalition’s election machinery was already at full readiness for the GE15 campaign.

"In Johor, the rapport between component parties such as Umno, MCA and MIC, is described as being very close.

"This relationship also translates to BN’s election machinery being at its most optimal level in preparing to face GE15,” said Onn Hafiz to reporters after officiating the SPC Group’s Paris Baguette first Halal manufacturing food hub at the Nusajaya Tech Park here today.

He was commenting on the readiness of BN’s Johor state chapter after the Election Commission (EC) announced the nomination, early polling and polling dates for GE15 earlier today.

Onn Hafiz, who is also the Johor BN election director, said the aim was to secure as many federal seats in the state as possible to support the coalition’s aim of regaining full control of Putrajaya.

"Only BN, as a government, can guarantee stability.

"We do hope that the people can differentiate between a Pakatan Harapan (PH) government and a BN government,” he said, adding that latter only lasted for about 22 months before it collapsed.

Onn Hafiz said the country had lost so much in the last four years, with many issues that needed to be addressed.

There was a consequently urgent need to develop both the country and Johor in order to recover lost ground, he said.

Earlier today, the EC officially announced that early polling will be held on November 15, nomination day on November 5, while polling day is on November 19.