INTERVIEW | Former Johor menteri besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin fears that Johor may not live up to its potential if the new state administration is not focused on development. 

Speaking to Malaysiakini on Monday, Khaled opened up on his view of the Pakatan Harapan government's performance in the four months since it took control of the state following the 14th general election. 

He describes the administration under his successor Osman Sapian as non-existent.

"Is there a state government (in Johor)?" he quipped, before bursting into laughter during the exclusive interview in Kuala Lumpur.

As Khaled explained, his dim view of the Johor administration is due to it seemingly being under direct federal rule, with Johoreans left in the dark over the state's direction. 

This, he warned, would be counter-productive to Johor's aim of becoming the number one state in the country.

"Johor is a state that has a lot of potential, and if we do not really focus on it, we will only be mediocre state. We used to aim high to become the number one state. We had plans, execution of the plans, and performance.

"But maybe it is still new for them... So give them time," he said.

Khaled served as Johor MB for one term until the BN state government fell to Harapan on May 9.

It was the first time Umno lost its stronghold in an election.

'The people can judge Osman'

Asked to comment on Osman's (below) performance as menteri besar, Khaled said he would let the people be the judge.

However, he called out his successor for going back on his word over the Forest City project in the state.

Khaled said Harapan had been vocal about its opposition to the project before the polls, but later walked back that antagonism after Osman became menteri besar. 

"When I was the menteri besar, I already spoke about how Forest City can contribute towards Johor's development and its potential. And those who were critical in opposing the project were Osman and his coalition.

"Now, when he has become the menteri besar, he defends it. So this automatically proves that all his claims then were only political in nature, and not based on facts and reality," he said.

Elaborating on Forest City, which recently came under the spotlight following Putrajaya's concern over foreign house ownership, Khaled said the federal government could always come up with the right policies to address their concerns.

Defending the project, he said what is important for Johor is to ensure the project's completion and that tax collection becomes a source of revenue for the state.

"They must make sure that the project is completed on time, and the collection of tax... (they must state) how much the state can get from quit rent, so that the people of Johor know.

"The collection (from Forest City) can be distributed to benefit local governments in Johor, like those that have many affordable homes where the tax revenue is lower.

"It is very clear. The high tax revenue (from Forest City) can be used to develop these areas."

'Malaysians must benefit'

Khaled also stated that a ruling on economic activities at Forest City must be imposed, and that the new menteri besar should make plans that would benefit Malaysians economically.

He added that it was fine for foreigners to have their offices and conduct financial activities in the state, but other businesses – especially the support services – must be confined only to Malaysians.

"This must be made sure of. So that was our plan from the take off," he said.

Last month, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad reportedly vowed to prevent foreigners from purchasing properties at the Forest City project.

Mahathir said the government was "not going to give visas for people to come and live here," and was concerned over foreigners conquering the state, including its businesses.

Osman seemed to contradict the prime minister's view, however, saying that Mahathir could be in the dark over why foreigners are allowed to acquire properties in Johor.

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