Bersatu's Mazlan Bujang has said he was dropped from the new Johor state executive council lineup by new Menteri Besar Dr Sahruddin Jamal because he did not belong to the right team.

The Puteri Wangsa assemblyperson said the new lineup, which was sworn in earlier today, was Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin's team.

"I am not in his (Sahruddin's) team, the new team is Muhyiddin's.

"The other day, the menteri besar said he has his own 'team' (to be appointed to the council), and I am not in his 'team'," he told Malaysiakini when contacted today.

Mazlan, who previously held the works, infrastructure and transport portfolio, was dropped, along with DAP's Skudai representative Tan Hong Pin in the state executive council reshuffle.

Both of them were allegedly dropped because they were not in the Johor palace's good books.

Asked about Tan being dropped, DAP national organizing secretary Anthony Loke told a press conference later that it was the decision of the Johor Pakatan Harapan. 

On the inclusion of Jementah assemblyperson Tan Chen Choon in the lineup, Loke said the former is a senior leader in Johor DAP, and was nominated from by the party's leadership, at both the national and state level.

The council reshuffle came following the resignation of Osman Sapian as the menteri besar, on April 8 – less than a year after coming to power.

Meanwhile, Mazlan urged the new executive councillors to carry out their duties well.

"I would like to remind the Menteri besar to do his job properly and prioritise the people's interests instead of personal ones.

"Do not ever betray the people's trust," he said.

Earlier today, newly minted menteri besar Sahruddin said changes were made to the state executive council lineup because he wanted those whom he is comfortable working with.

“As I said before, I was identifying executive councillors whom I would be comfortable working with. This is because we are working for the people.

“I am also a civil servant. I must ensure that the work entrusted to me is carried out,” he told a press conference in Nusajaya today.


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