Newly appointed Ling and Lee raring to go

JOHOR BARU: Newly appointed state executive councillor Ling Tian Soon will get down to work immediately, starting with an important meeting on the reopening of the land border today.

The meeting will be chaired by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi ahead of the reopening on April 1.

Ling, who was sworn in yesterday, will helm the health and unity portfolio.

The Yong Peng assemblyman thanked the voters for giving him the opportunity to serve them and the people in Johor.

“I have been given the responsibility to take care of health and unity, which will be my utmost priority.

“The meeting is important as I can get a better picture of the preparations and other measures taken by the authorities before the opening of the land borders with Singapore next month,” he said when met at the Mentri Besar official residence yesterday.

Ling, who is also the state MCA youth chief, thanked party president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and the Mentri Besar for giving him the trust and opportunity to be part of the state executive council line-up.

Paloh assemblyman Lee Ting Han said he was also eager to start work and help to bring in foreign investments into the state.

The first-term MCA elected representative has been appointed the state investment, trade and consumer affairs committee chairman.

“The main focus of the new state administration is to help revive the sluggish economy.

“With the border reopening soon, we will do our best to woo foreign investors into Johor, which already has the infrastructure,” he said.

Lee thanked former mentri besar Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad for laying the foundation over the last two years to prepare the state post-Covid-19.

“Under the leadership of our new Mentri Besar (Onn Hafiz) with the assistance of state government officers, we are ready to make Johor attractive to investors once again,” he said.

Separately, Dr Wee congratulated Ling and Lee on their appointments.

In a Facebook post, the Transport Minister thanked Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar for giving his consent to the appointments.

Dr Wee also thanked Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Hasni, who is the state Barisan chairman, and Onn Hafiz for their trust, support and cooperation to MCA.

“We will work hard to return the people’s support during the recent Johor election so that the state will remain stable and prosperous in the future,” he said.