KUALA LUMPUR – Upset with the slow rate of vaccinations, Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has ordered the state legislative assembly to convene on August 12 – slightly less than two weeks after the state of emergency is set to end.
In two separate Facebook posts today, the sultan said with only 10% of Johor’s 3.78 million population having been vaccinated, the federal government needs to step up.
“I feel the vaccination rate is still too slow and needs to be accelerated urgently. I hope the federal government can also increase vaccine supplies to Johor,” Sultan Iskandar said.
His Majesty said the state government machinery is prepared to deliver 50,000 jabs a day with the aim of vaccinating 50% of the population within two months.
Speaking to the Royal Press Office, Sultan Ibrahim expressed his concern over reports of increasing infections at workplaces, industrial areas and construction sites that contribute to the majority of the daily cases.
His Majesty also cited grim statistics of 69% of new cases that cannot be traced.
“The best solution to solve this conundrum is to vaccinate as much of our entire population as quickly as possible,” the sultan said.
Reconvene state assembly
In an earlier Facebook post today, the sultan revealed that he has granted his assent to officiate the opening of the assembly’s fourth meeting in Kota Iskandar.
“I want all assemblymen to unite their hearts and meet for the sake of the people and Johor, especially on plans to provide aid to the people who have been affected because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and prepare Johor’s state economic plan as best they can.
“I feel sad seeing the suffering of my people, their fear and their agitation. I am disappointed because till today, the Covid-19 pandemic has not been resolved,” said Sultan Ibrahim to his Royal Press Office.
The ruler issued the decree after granting an audience to Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad, State Secretary Datuk Azmi Rohani and state legal adviser Amir Nasruddin this morning.
He had also received advice from state Health Director Datuk Dr Aman Rabu on the latest pandemic developments in Johor.
Sultan Ibrahim is the latest of Malaysia’s nine royal households to grant his assent for a state assembly.
The first was Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah himself, who granted his assent for the Pahang assembly to convene roughly two weeks after the end of the emergency.
Similarly, Perak assembly Speaker Datuk Mohammad Zahir Abdul Khalid said Menteri Besar Datuk Saarani Mohamad will seek an audience with Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah this week to brief him on the proposed date for the state assembly sitting.
The actions of the royal household is more in line with public demands that Parliament be reconvened – a demand that has been deflected and avoided by the ruling Perikatan Nasional administration.
Observers and experts have speculated that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin fears calling for the lower House’s sitting, seeing as he is the most unpopular prime minister to date, coupled with the strong possibility that he will lose power should the Dewan Rakyat meet. – The Vibes, June 23, 2021
