JOHOR BARU: Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal has defended his working visit to the Middle East after he was criticised for being away as thousands of Orang Asli were cut off by floods in Mersing.
His office issued a statement saying that the visit to Jordan and Egypt, with a delegation from the Johor Islamic Religious Council (MAINJ), was to foster closer ties between universities in the countries – including University Al-Azhar in Egypt – with the state’s religious education institution (Kolej Pengajian Islam Johor or Marsa) – with the trip planned long before the state was hit by floods.