'Loyal' Pakatan seeks changes to Johor bill
Johor Pakatan Rakyat is proposing improvements to the Johor Housing and Real Property Enactment Board Bill 2014 even though it was already passed by the state assembly last month.
Johor Pakatan Rakyat is proposing improvements to the Johor Housing and Real Property Enactment Board Bill 2014 even though it was already passed by the state assembly last month.
Johor Opposition Leader Boo Cheng Hau ( right ) said the move was out of loyalty to the Johor sultan who has refused to assent to the bill until it is properly explained to the people.
The proposals, outlined in a working paper prepared by the Johor Pakatan Rakyat Research Centre (Joprec), was submitted to the Johor Mentri Besar's Office in Kota Iskandar today.
"Joprec's effort in coming up with this working paper is out of loyalty to the Sultan of Johor who has decreed that the people's voice should be heard by the state government before his highness assents to the law," he in a statement today.
Boo, who led the delegation to submit the document, said he hope the state government will consider the questions raised in the working paper.
Accompanying him were PAS' Parit Yanni assemblyperson Aminohuda Hassan PKR's Bukit Batu assemblyperson Jimmy Puah and the party's deputy secretary-general Steven Choong.
The bill, which was tabled in the state assembly early last month, generated controversy as it would have given the state monarch executive powers in the newly-set up Johor Housing and Real Property Board.
Concerns were raised about the blurring of lines between the monarchy and executive branch, with Umno veteran including former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former deputy prime minister Musa Hitam also criticising the bill.
Johor Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin ( right ) eventually caved in to pressure and agreed to substitute references to the state monarch with the state government before it was promptly passed by the state assembly.
The bill was passed with support solely from BN state assemblypersons.
Later, the Johor palace assured there would be no abuse of power and the Johor sultan said he will not assent to the bill until the state government conduct a road show to explain the new law.
According to Joprec, it's working paper raised concerns about possible redundancy of the new housing board as there is already an exco portfolio on the same area.
It called for clearer definition on the scope of appointment and power for the board's members.
The paper also raised concern whether the board will be involved in the housing business and urged stronger public consultation.
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