New Johor Executive Council line up to focus on Johoreans' prosperity, interests

JOHOR BAHRU, March 26 (Bernama) -- The new Johor state executive council line up will focus directly on prosperity to ensure the economic standing and interests of the state population are preserved.

All of them took their oaths to do their best for the state and thanked the Johor Sultan, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar and Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi for the responsibilities entrusted to them.

State Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Mohd Fared Khalid expressed hope that all Johoreans, no matter their religion, race or political creed, could come together to build a brighter future for the state.

"As someone new, this is a very meaningful opportunity, I need to learn fast to understand what can be done, what’s most important is that all good policies will be continued, especially those consented to by the Johor Sultan.

"Hopefully Johoreans will give us a chance to provide our best service to them,” the Semerah assemblyman told reporters after the media conference at the Menteri Besar’s official residence here today.

Larkin assemblyman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah, who was appointed Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development, Cooperatives and Human Resource Committee chairman said he promised to do his best even though he had been given a serious responsibility.

"I ask all Johoreans to give their support to ensure the state remains great and the mandate given to the 40 Barisan Nasional assemblymen is not wasted. The time for politicking is over and now it’s time to work and focus on development and empowering the people,” he said.

Yong Peng assemblyman Ling Tian Soon, who is the new Health and Unity Committee chairman, said he would cooperate with the Health Ministry to discuss and plan strategies that could be carried out by the state’s population to enter the endemic phase.

"I will get information from relevant agencies, tomorrow I will meet them, then we can plan the next steps. We need to prepare well for the reopening of our country’s borders, especially the land border crossing between Malaysia and Singapore that will be opened from April 1,” the MCA Johor Youth chief said.

Meanwhile, Paloh assemblyman Lee Ting Han, who takes over the Investment, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee, said he was ready to carry out his duty to attract more investors to the state to ensure the state’s economy continues to improve.

Newly appointed Housing and Local Government Committee chairman, Bukit Permai assemblyman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor, said he would meet with all the agencies under his portfolio, especially the local authorities to understand the development and current status of all plans made in the state.

Meanwhile, Buloh Kasap assemblyman Datuk Zahari Sarip, who takes over as Agriculture, Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman, said he would study and improve all weaknesses in his portfolio to ensure the people in the state, especially in rural areas, receive equal benefits.

The two women executive councillors, Education, Information and Communications Committee chairman Norlizah Noh (Johor Lama assemblyman) and Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman Khairin Nisa Ismail (Serom assemblyman), said their appointments proved the importance of women’s role and leadership to continue to gain prominence and acknowledgement from the state government.

Norlizah said she would have a meeting together with the department heads, including media representatives, to study and discuss potential programmes and activities, while Khairin Nisa said she viewed her appointment as a duty that must be carried out honestly and sincerely.

Ten assemblymen had taken their oaths earlier as Johor executive council members in front the Johor Sultan at Balai Menghadap, Istana Bukit Serene, this morning.

The appointment of the new executive council follows BN’s victory during the Johor state election on March 12.

-- BERNAMA