MB: No executive powers for Sultan under new Johor housing board bill

(Malay Mail Online) – Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin has clarified that the Sultan of Johor will not have direct executive control under the proposed Johor Housing and Property Board bill that is set to be tabled on Monday.

English daily New Straits Times quoted him as saying that executive powers remain with the mentri besar — who would automatically assume the post of chairman of the board under the proposed enactment.

“Under the bill, the Sultan of Johor can appoint members of the board on the advice of the mentri besar, which is similar to the power that the sultan has at the moment,” he said.

“The news report today (yesterday) that said the sultan of Johor would be given authority over the board is not true. This is because I will be the chairman of the board, with executive powers,” Khaled added.

News portal Malaysiakini reported last Wednesday that the Johor government will table an enactment in the state legislative assembly on Monday to form a housing and real property board that will give the Johor sultan the power to appoint the board members, dissolve the board and oversee its accounts.

The Johor Housing and Real Property Board Bill 2014 reportedly aims to create a board that will undertake and promote the development of real property and housing in Johor.

The news portal said the bill also aims to empower the sultan to determine the remuneration of board members, to approve the appointment of a director, and to pass the estimated expenses for each following year before submitting for the state government’s approval for the allocations.

The proposed enactment has since come under criticism, with lawmakers and constitutional experts warning that it potentially goes against the country’s constitutional monarchy system.

Meanwhile, Umno supreme council member Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi urged the Johor state government to defer plans to table the new bill to avoid it being exploited and politicised.

He said Khaled needs to study and re-evaluate the proposed enactment to clarify any and all aspects that lead to the current state of confusion.

“There is no need to rush. Whatever the case, the principle is that we must uphold the concept of a constitutional monarchy that we have followed for so long, where there is a separation of power between the monarchy and executive,” he said in a report by Malay daily Utusan Malaysia.

“This is important so that the system continues to be effective and we can be a united country.”