SAHRUDDIN SWORN IN
Johor MB will name new executive council line-up within 14 days
BUKIT Kepong assemblyman Dr Sahruddin Jamal was sworn in as the 17th menteri besar of Johor at Istana Bukit Serene here yesterday.
He was sworn in before Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan
Iskandar at the Audience Room, Istana Bukit Serene, at 9.30am.
Present were Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim and Sultan Ibrahim’s sonin-law, Datuk Dennis Muhammad Abdullah.
Dr Sahruddin, 43, who was previously health, environment and agriculture committee chairman, succeeds Datuk Osman Sapian, who stepped down as menteri besar on April 8.
Dr Sahruddin, who is Johor Pakatan Harapan secretary, holds an MBBS degree from Universiti Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia. Before entering politics, he operated his clinic, Klinik Dr Sahruddin, in Bukit Pasir, Pagoh.
His wife, Dr Nila Armila Mukdan, is also a doctor and they have three daughters.
In the 14th General Election last year, Dr Sahruddin, from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, won the Bukit Kepong seat, which was
previously known as Bukit Serampang. He defeated Barisan Nasional candidate Mohd Noor Taib by a majority of 1,273 votes.
Dr Sahruddin played an instrumental role in tackling the toxic waste contamination crisis in Sungai Kim Kim, Pasir Gudang, which lasted about two weeks last month. He used his medical expertise to screen victims who had contracted what was dubbed “Kim Kim Symptoms”.
Speculation was rife that he would become menteri besar when he was sent as the official representative of former menteri besar Osman to the Malaysia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat in Putrajaya on April 9, a day after Osman had a meeting with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Dr Sahruddin said Johor would have a new executive council lineup. He had 14 days to finalise the changes. He expressed confidence that he could meet the deadline.
“When there is a change in leadership, of course there will be a change in the exco line-up.
“Datuk Osman has his own team and I have mine. I will choose those who I am comfortable working with. And there will be a change in portfolios too,” he said after the swearing-in ceremony.
Present were Osman, Johor Parti Amanah Negara chairman Aminolhuda Hassan, Johor DAP chairman Liew Chin Tong and Johor PKR deputy chairman Jimmy Puah.
Osman, during his tenure as menteri besar, held the state’s natural resources, administration, finance, planning and economic development portfolios.
Dr Sahruddin said he would ensure that the people continued to benefit from the development initiatives planned for Johor.
“I will try to carry out my duties to the best of my abilities and make sure Johor continues to progress and the lot of the people continues to improve.”