Osman Sapian is the new Johor MB, exco to be sworn in on May 15 (updated)

JOHOR BARU: Johor Pakatan Harapan secretary Datuk Osman Sapian (pic) is the new Johor Mentri Besar.

 

He was sworn-in as Mentri Besar at a ceremony in Istana Bukit Serene here on Saturday (May 12) before Johor's Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar. Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Iskandar was also present. 

 

After his swearing-in, Osman told reporters that the list of names for Johor's executive councillors will be finalised before May 15. 

 

He said the swearing-in ceremony of the 10 executive councillors will take place on May 15, after getting consent from Sultan Ibrahim. 

 

"I've shortlisted several names for the councillor positions and will present the list to His Majesty for approval," said Osman. 

 

He said apart from the 10 names for the councillor positions, he would also submit names for the State Legislative Speaker and Deputy Speaker. 

He added that the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Johor government will not provide any allocations for Barisan Nasional (BN) state lawmakers.

 

“Why should we give BN assemblymen who had opposed us any allocations? It will be like giving bullets so they can shoot back at us,” he said. 

Osman, 67, is the secretary of both Johor Pakatan Harapan and Johor Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Pribumi). Before joining Pribumi, he was Pulai Umno deputy chairman.

 

Osman is the 16th Johor Mentri Besar. He took over the position from Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin from Umno, who lost in the Pasir Gudang and Permas parliamentary and state seats respectively in the recently concluded general election.

 

Asked whether the new administration will review several projects promised by the previous government during the election campaigning period, Osman said he will look into it. 

 

"We will identify whether the projects will benefit the people, if not we will scrap them," said Osman. 

 

He said the previous tagline Muafakat Johor coined by Khaled would be replaced with Harapan Johor. However, the concept of Bangsa Johor will remain. 

 

"Our state anthem is about Bangsa Johor, which is for everybody in the state," said Osman.