The Star Malaysia

New MB, new focus

Ruler wants MB to carry out duties with honesty, sincerity and trust

- for reports by NELSON BENJAMIN and MOHD FARHAAN SHAH

Dr Sahruddin Jamal has been sworn in, capping a quick ascension to the position of Johor Mentri Besar, and he swears to be people-centric. Now, the Johor Sultan wants the state government to focus on helping the rakyat and developing the nation’s economy, including keeping the state’s raw water clean.

JOHOR BARU: Now that the new Mentri Besar has been appointed, Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar advised the state government to focus on helping the rakyat and developing the nation’s economy.

“The Johor government has long been establishe­d, where it has its own tradition and way of administra­ting itself.

“Those on the outside do not have to start talking about who has the power and how to administer the state,” His Majesty said in a statement on Sultan Ibrahim’s official Facebook page yesterday.

The Sultan also said he hoped the new Mentri Besar, Dr Sahruddin Jamal, is able to carry out his responsibi­lities with honesty, sincerity, trust and put the interest of the state first.

“I also want him to focus on river pollution issues to ensure raw water source is always clean and able to last for a long time,” he said.

His Majesty said the state government should not waste time discussing things that were not beneficial, spreading accusation­s and coming up with stories just to attract or confuse the rakyat.

Sultan Ibrahim added that the sovereignt­y of Johor, the purity of Islam and the privilege of the Malays should always be protected from being questioned by outsiders who hide behind the struggle for human rights.

Earlier yesterday, Dr Sahruddin, 43, who is also the state Health, Environmen­t and Agricultur­e Committee chairman, took his oath of office as the new Mentri Besar of Johor before His Majesty at Balai Mengadap, Istana Bukit Serene.

Dr Sahruddin was appointed as the 17th Johor Mentri Besar following the resignatio­n of Datuk Osman Sapian on April 8.

Sultan Ibrahim was abroad when Osman tendered his resignatio­n last week. The Ruler returned to Johor late on Friday.

He immediatel­y met with Osman, who handed over his resignatio­n, and later to the state opposition chief Datuk Hasni Mohammed on Saturday.

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