JOHOR BARU – The fourth session of the Johor state assembly which begins today, will certainly attract the attention of many quarters as it is the first state assembly sitting to be held during the National Recovery Plan.
Scheduled to be opened by Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, the sitting will be the highlight of the day as it is held at a time when the country is still facing stark challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The session will begin with Sultan Ibrahim delivering a speech and then opening the state assembly sitting before it is adjourned to Sunday.
The state assembly sitting, which is scheduled for seven days until August 22, is seen as an important platform for the state government to clarify its action plan to restore the state’s economy, as well as to assist those affected by Covid-19.
Johor is under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government with 29 seats in the state assembly, while the opposition has 27 seats.
Johor Umno leads the state leadership with 14 seats; followed by Bersatu with 12 seats, including the Gambir state seat which is held by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin; MIC (two); and PAS (one), while the opposition have 14 seats from DAP, Amanah (six) and PKR (seven).
Johor Speaker Suhaizan Kaiat said that as of last Wednesday, he had only received a motion on Covid-19 vaccinations in Johor.
The last session of the Johor assembly sitting was held from November 26 to December 6 last year, when Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad (Benut-Umno) tabled the state’s 2021 budget. – Bernama, August 12, 2021