Johor MB faces tricky first test with reshuffling of exco

Mohd Farhan Darwis Mohd Farhan Darwis Updated 7 years ago · Published on 21 Apr 2019 7:00AM · 8 Comments

Johor Menteri Besar Sahruddin Jamal's first test will be the shuffling of his executive council, which is understood to be a condition of his appointment by the state ruler. – Facebook pic, April 21, 2019.

NEW Johor Menteri Besar Sahruddin Jamal will face his first stern test since replacing Osman Sapian when he names his new executive council line-up.

Sahruddin reportedly will have to tread a political minefield when he reshuffles the state government line up.

According to a Bersatu party source, the Puteri Wangsa assemblyman faces potential political fallout if he is forced to drop a highly popular exco.

The exco in question is Mazlan Bujang, who holds the public works, infrastructure and transport committee portfolio.

The political grape vine in Johor has had Mazlan’s head on the chopping block since Osman was replaced as he reportedly is one of two excos that reportedly are not favoured by Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.

“If Mazlan is dropped, the MB will definitely lose support in Bersatu as Mazlan has the support of the majority of Bersatu division chiefs in Johor,” the source said.

“The MB is new to politics, with no support among the party grassroots,” the source who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

“That support should show at Bersatu’s coming party elections at the end of the year as Mazlan reportedly has the support of 20 of the party’s 26 divisions in the state.

“These divisions that support Mazlan are also among the five most active and most populated divisions in the country.

“That is something the new MB cannot ignore. If Mazlan is to be dropped, it must be with solid reasons not an excuse that it was done at the pleasure of the palace,” the source said.

It is understood the reshuffle is one of the preconditions set by Sultan Ibrahim before he accepted to Sahruddin’s appointment.

Pakatan Harapan components parties in Johor are understood to want Sahruddin to retain the current exco line up, filling up only vacant positions.

One of these posts is the resources, administration, finance, economic planning and development that were previously held by Osman.

The other is one held by Sahruddin himself – health, environment and agriculture.

Apart from Mazlan, the Johor rumour mill also has DAP’s Tang Hong Ping set for the chop.

Tan is the local government, science and technology exco.

Tan is a rather controversial character that has the propensity to rub the Johor royalty the wrong way.

Since his appointment, he has been summoned to the Johor palace several times, including over the use of English and Mandarin in official correspondences and his criticism over the change of status of Kukup Island into sultanate land by the palace.

Tan eventually was forced to make an open apology over these actions.

In 2017 while he was an opposition assemblyman, he angered the palace when he objected the palace’s decision not to televise live the proceedings of the state assembly.

Last Wednesday, Tan said he does not know if he would be dropped and had left the decision in the hands of his party leaders.

After he was sworn as Johor’s 17th MB, Sahruddin said he will place as priority the interest of the state rather than personal and political priorities in picking his excos. – April 21, 2019.

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Comments

  • Work for the people please as you have promised.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Work for the people not the one family.

    Posted 7 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply

  • Work for the people not for the Mazlan and his honcos.

    Posted 7 years ago by Dayang Fazrina Abang Yasir · Reply

  • Reshuffle the exco, no need to drop anybody. Ruler only mention a change to exco is required. Get a new exco to take care of the portfolio most objected or concerned by Ruler. Serve the Johoreans as the master plan, not PM or anybody else.

    Posted 7 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • Strange that tge Royal Family has the political clout over the decision in MB selection of exco's What is the purpose of having political party running the states and government. Might as well have absolute monarchy . Looks like the apolitical status is only a guise granted to the Royal Family as a leeway for anything that goes awry and gace saving.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • When in doubt, consult PM, the people's elected representative.

    Posted 7 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Peoples interest comes first above all others, not even the family wearing yellow.

    Posted 7 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • DAP has 14 seats in the Assembly?

    Posted 7 years ago by Lipdah Lia · Reply