Aznan being sworn in as state executive councillor before the Regent of Johor at Istana Bukit Serene.
TANJUNG Surat assemblyman Aznan Tamin hopes to play his part in helping Johor become a developed state through his education portfolio.
The new state executive councillor, who took over the education and information portfolio from Johor Lama assemblyman Norlizah Noh, said he was thankful to be given a chance to serve.
“I will do my best to carry out the responsibilities and trust given to me for Bangsa Johor and achieve the goal of making Johor a developed state by 2030.
“I would like to thank Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz for the trust given to me,” he said while thanking Norlizah for her service over the past two years.
The Pengerang Umno deputy chief was sworn in as a new exco member before His Royal Highness Tunku Ismail, the Regent of Johor, at Istana Bukit Serene, Johor Baru.
The reshuffling of the state exco line-up also saw changes in the portfolios of five other exco members.
Yong Peng assemblyman and MCA youth chief Ling Tian Soon, who was health and unity committee chairman, will continue in health but will now also oversee the environment portfolio.
Tenggaroh assemblyman and MIC youth chief K. Raven Kumar, who was previously tourism and environment committee chairman, will now be in charge of unity, culture and heritage.
Raven Kumar is now state unity, culture and heritage committee chairman.Larkin assemblyman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah, who is also Umno deputy youth chief and supreme council member, will continue in his existing youth, sports, entrepreneur development and cooperatives portfolios but will no longer be in charge of human resources.
Paloh assemblyman Lee Ting Han, who was investment, trade and consumer affairs committee chairman, will continue heading his existing portfolios while also taking on human resources.
Similarly, Bukit Pasir assemblyman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh, who was works, transportation and infrastructure committee chairman, will continue but with an additional communication portfolio.
The Johor Mentri Besar will be taking on the tourism portfolio on top of his existing natural resources, administration, finance, planning and economic development portfolios.
Only four exco members retained their present portfolios: Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor (housing and local government), Datuk Zahari Sarip (agriculture, agro-based industry and rural), Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid (Islamic religious affairs) and Khairin-Nisa Ismail (women, family and community development).
Ling thanked Onn Hafiz for maintaining his health portfolio and giving him environment in addition.
“Environment is a new field for me, and I know that the Mentri Besar takes pollution issues seriously, especially those involving rivers.
Lee is state investment, trade, consumer affairs and human resources committee chairman.“I will discuss with my team on effective measures we can take to improve water quality in Johor rivers,” he said.
Mohd Hairi said he was chairing the monthly meeting with directors and heads of agencies under his portfolios when the restructuring of the exco line-up was announced.
“I would like to thank all of the departments and agencies under the human resources portfolio who had been giving their cooperation for the past two years.”
Raven Kumar said despite no longer having the tourism portfolio, he will continue working with relevant agencies to help boost the industry.
“The fact that the Mentri Besar himself is taking the tourism portfolio shows that he is very serious about improving the industry.
“I believe that we will be working closely as tourism is related to my new unity, culture and heritage portfolio.”
Lee said he would continue working hard to ensure Johor was prepared for Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) in all aspects, including human resources.
“With JS-SEZ, Johor is poised to enter a new phase of development that requires a highly skilled workforce.
“Key initiatives under JS-SEZ include collaboration to curate training and work-based learning initiatives to address gaps.
“I will work hard to ensure that we can successfully carry out the initiatives,” he said.
Mohamad Fazli said he would first meet with relevant heads of departments to see the direction that had been set for his committees.
“I will also meet with the Mentri Besar to find out his target for the communication portfolio,” said Mohamad Fazli.
