Johor govt still intact with simple majority after Osman's passing, says Speaker

JOHOR BARU: The Umno-led Johor government is still intact despite the passing of former mentri besar Datuk Osman Sapian, the Kempas assemblyman.

State Assembly Speaker Suhaizan Kayat, who offered his condolences to Osman's family, said the government still holds a simple majority.

“There no issue of a hung assembly as the state government still has one seat more than the Opposition, in accordance with Clause 23 (5) of the Undang-Undang Tubuh Kerajaan Negeri Johor 1895,” he said in a WhatsApp reply on Wednesday (Dec 22) to queries following Osman's death.

Osman, who would have turned 70 on Friday (Dec 24), died at his son’s home in Petaling Jaya at 11.45pm on Tuesday (Dec 21) night.

He was the 16th Johor mentri besar and the first from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) after the general election in 2018.

Osman suffered a stroke at his home here in October and was then taken to a private hospital here before being transferred to Hospital Serdang for further treatment.

Suhaizan, who is currently performing the Umrah in Mecca, also said there would not be a by-election for Kempas as more than three years have passed since the last general election.

Umno currently has 14 state seats, Bersatu 11, MIC two and PAS one, for a total of 28 seats; with Kempas now vacant. Pakatan Harapan has 27 seats.

There are 56 seats in the Johor state assembly.