Johor MB Osman quits, reason unknown

KUALA LUMPUR (April 10): Datuk Osman Sapian has quit as Johor menteri besar (MB) effective yesterday. The candidate who takes over the position will be a member of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, according to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Speaking at a press conference outside the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, Dr Mahathir said Osman had submitted his resignation letter to him and the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.

However, he noted that the Johor Sultan has not received the letter as he is currently abroad.

“We have not decided on his replacement but according to the agreement within Pakatan Harapan, the Johor menteri besar should come from Bersatu (Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia),” said Dr Mahathir.

“As of now, Johor has no menteri besar,” he said, adding that there are three to four candidates in consideration to take over the position.

Osman’s resignation came as a surprise. Coincidently, he stepped down after a slew of events that took place in the southern state in recent weeks.

The most recent one is the development of the world’s largest ship-to-ship (STS) hub in Johor Baru port waters by KA Petra Sdn Bhd and Hutchison Port Holdings Ltd, both of which signed a heads of agreement for the project. Dr Mahathir witnessed the signing ceremony.

KA Petra will have a 70% interest in the project, while Hutchison will hold the remaining 30% stake.

Osman was caught between Dr Mahathir and Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who claimed that the STS project was planned without the knowledge of the state government. However, Dr Mahathir dismissed the claim made by the crown prince and noted that Osman was aware of the project.

The STS hub, which will occupy a 3,000-acre (1,214.1ha) area within Johor Baru port waters, will be able to store over nine million tonnes of petroleum products and accomodate 30 berths.

Prior to that, Osman was also blamed by the public that the state authority did not act quick enough to clean up the toxic waste dumped by irresponsible parties into Sungai Kim Kim so that the impact of the toxic fumes on the residents could be minimised.

More than 2,770 people fell sick, with the majority of them schoolchildren.

Some quarters commented the environmental crisis engulfing Pasir Gudang in Johor did not speak well on Osman’s crisis management capacity, although it is unfair for him to shoulder all the blame and criticism on the handling of the chemical pollution in Pasir Gudang. — theedgemarkets.com

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