Former Umno MP Tamrin Abdul Ghafar has hit out at Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for failing to come out with a clear stance on the Johor Housing and Real Property Board Bill 2014.

 

Tamrin, who is the son of former deputy prime minister Abdul Ghafar Baba, said this in reference to Najib who weighed into the matter for the first time yesterday through a statement that was only issued to the national news agency Bernama .

 

"Najib's comments are very loose and appears as if he is in agreement with (Johor Menteri Besar) Mohamed Khaled Nordin," Tamrin, who quit Umno to join PAS in 2012, told  Malaysiakini  in a text message.

 

Najib ( right ) had yesterday called on Khaled to ensure the Bill will be in line with principles of the Federal Constitution which upholds constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy.

 

However, Najib added that Khaled had already assured him it was in accordance with the federal constitution and he would be the one in charge of the housing board that will created if the Bill is passed.

 

The Johor Housing and Real Property Board Bill 2014, if passed, will see the creation of the Johor Housing and Real Property Board  to promote and undertake the development of housing and real estate property in Johor.

 

It will grant the sultan executive power over the board, including appointing board members, determining their allowances, scrutinising the board's accounts as well as being empowered to dissolve the board.

 

This has raised concerns that it will blur the lines between the executive and monarchy.

 

'Outside interference'

Tamrin, who is former Batu Berendam MP, said Khaled would not push for the Bill if he had not received support, and questioned Najib's role in this.

 

"As (former prime minister) Mahathir Mohamad had said - there could be outside interference," he said.

 

Mahathir had on Friday also weighed into the issue, warning that the move by the Johor government could bring royalty into disrespect.

 

He was joined by former deputy prime minister Musa Hitam ( left ) who was quoted in The Star today calling for the bill to be postponed.

 

"The issue is too fundamentally crucial to the people of our whole nation to be taken lightly.

 

"I urge Umno, at both state and federal level, as the major party in power, to urgently step in," he was quoted as saying.