JOHOR BARU: Four senior government officials are said to be in the running to become the next state secretary following the transfer of Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani to Istana Negara from July 1.
They are Johor financial officer Datuk Mohammed Ridha Abd Kadir, Johor deputy state secretary (development) Datuk Asman Shah Abd Rahman, Johor lands and mines director Mohammed Shakib Ali, and Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor Sdn Bhd (KPRJ) chief executive Datuk Lukman Abu Bakar.
A state government official said that talk has been rife that Johor will get a new state secretary, especially after Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar ascended the throne as King of Malaysia last year.
"Whoever is appointed by the Johor Civil Service (JCS) will be based on merit and will need to know how to handle the fast pace of development taking place in the state, especially in regards to the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).
"I am sure there will be a lot of pressure for the JCS to be able to adapt and keep up in terms of cutting red tape and to be investor-friendly,” the official said, adding that an official announcement would be made soon.
Meanwhile, news of the appointment of the new state secretary intensified when Sultan Ibrahim met Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi along with Mohammed Ridha and Mohammed Shakib during an audience with His Majesty in Istana Pasir Pelangi on July 3.
Last week, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar announced that Azmi has been appointed Datuk Pengelola Bijaya Diraja at Istana Negara beginning July 1.
He said that His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim had consented to Azmi’s appointment as Comptroller of the Royal Household.
Shamsul expressed confidence that with Azmi’s vast experience and credibility, he would be able to strengthen the administration at Istana Negara and carry out his duties to assist His Majesty as the Head of State.
Shamsul said that Azmi, 59, has served in the civil service for 33 years.
Azmi served as Johor state secretary for eight years and six months.
Azmi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Development Science (Economics and Management) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, as well as a Master’s degree in Human Resource Development and a PhD in Land Administration and Development from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
