Johor MB meets with Opposition over state's 2022 Budget

JOHOR BARU: Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad has met with several Opposition leaders over the state's 2022 Budget, which will be tabled next month.

Hasni thanked Parit Ya’ani assemblyman Aminolhuda Hassan, who is also Johor Pakatan Harapan chairman, Bukit Batu assemblyman and state PKR deputy chairman Jimmy Puah Wee Tse and Stulang assemblyman and state DAP secretary Andrew Chen Kah Eng for their visit to Kota Iskandar.

The state Umno chief added that many things relating to the wellbeing of the people in Johor were discussed especially in the effort in facing post-Covid-19.

“This is the ‘Johor way’ that always prioritised consensus between government leaders and the Opposition.

“God willing, I will outline various efforts to improve the well being and prosperity of the people in the Johor 2022 Budget which will be tabled at the end of next November,” he said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Oct 20) night.

On Monday (Oct 18), Puah urged Hasni to organise a meeting with the Opposition to discuss the state's 2022 Budget, which is expected to be tabled on Nov 25.

He added this comes as former mentri besar Datuk Osman Sapian was currently hospitalised after suffering a stroke last Wednesday (Oct 13).

“It is unlikely that Osman will be able to make it for the tabling of the Budget during the state assembly meeting next month due to his current health condition.

“Each assemblyman must be physically present at the state assembly meeting to cast their votes for the Budget to be passed,” he added.

Puah said with this development, the state government, under the leadership of Hasni, was holding on to less support.

He urged Hasni to discuss with Pakatan Harapan assemblymen and get their views and feedback prior to the tabling of the state Budget.

“The state Budget needs to be passed. It will put the state government in a difficult situation if it does not,” he said.

Puah also said that Pakatan would support the Budget if it touched on the people’s welfare, especially during these unprecedented times.