Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi (in red) dotting the eye on a dragon head to "awaken" the creature during a Chinese New Year gathering with Chinese leaders at his official residence in Saujana, Johor Baru on Feb 7, 2024.
JOHOR BARU: After almost two years in power, the Barisan Nasional-led state government is set for a reshuffle, with the Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi himself taking on the tourism portfolio.
It is understood that as many as six members of the 10-member exco line-up would see changes in their portfolios, while the latter four would remain unchanged.
However, it is learnt that no one is likely to be dropped, with only the swapping of portfolios to be done, which could lay to rest speculation that Pakatan Harapan assemblymen may be co-opted as exco members in a unity state government.
Onn Hafiz is set to take over the tourism portfolio as the state gets serious with preparation for Visit Johor Year 2026, which was announced during the state budget on Nov 23.
When hosting a Chinese New Year gathering with Chinese leaders at his official residence Saujana here, Onn Hafiz, told the crowd that he would be taking over the portfolio.
Tenggaroh assemblyman K. Raven Kumar is now the state tourism, environment, heritage and culture chairman.
Along with major developments in the state such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, Onn Hafiz said one of the main agendas that the state government wants to emphasise is tourism.
“We just made slight changes to our portfolios. After this, I, as Mentri Besar, will take care of tourism,” he said in his speech, which was met with applause from some 70 attendees, which included community leaders, association representatives and business leaders.
Onn Hafiz used to be the state exco in charge of tourism, youth and sports before he was sworn in as the 19th Johor Mentri Besar in March 2022.
On Tuesday, Regent of Johor Tunku Ismail ibni Sultan Ibrahim received an audience from Onn Hafiz and Johor state secretary Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani.
Photos of the meeting were posted on Tunku Ismail’s official Facebook page, saying that various state-related matters were presented and discussed with the Regent.
A source said the reshuffle was discussed in the exco meeting on Wednesday, along with the list of exco members and their new portfolios.
“After about one year and nine months under the Mentri Besar’s leadership, perhaps he feels it is time for a reshuffle to align with the Maju Johor 2030 agenda.
“This is not a political move but one that takes into account Johor’s direction and upcoming developments,” said the source.
“However, (we) will have to wait until the next exco meeting to confirm the matter, as that is when the minutes for the previous meeting will be confirmed,” said the source.
The source added that an official announcement would probably be made after that.
The Johor exco line-up now consists of seven members from Umno, two from MCA and one from MIC, after the coalition won 40 out of 56 seats in the state election in March 2022.
