JOHOR BARU: The Johor government will table the state’s Budget 2022 next Thursday (Nov 18) and the assemblymen have been reminded the importance of attending the meeting.

       In anticipation that many assemblymen would be in Melaka for the state elections, Johor assembly Speaker Suhaizan Kayat said the meeting was much more important.

       “We have issued a notice on Oct 27 informing the assemblymen that the state assembly meeting will convene from Nov 18 until 25 for Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad to table Budget 2022.

       “The state assembly meeting is way more important than campaigning for the Melaka state elections.

       “The assemblymen need to vote to have the budget passed,” he said when contacted on Wednesday (Nov 10).

       Suhaizan also reminded Johor assemblymen who were campaigning for their respective parties in Melaka to follow the guidelines and standard operating procedures as the country still faced Covid-19 pandemic.

       “We will still continue with the SOP that was put in place at the last state assembly meeting including having all assemblymen, department heads and media members carry out daily Covid-19 tests before entering the main chamber,” he added.

       During the last state assembly meeting on Aug 22, four assemblymen were barred from entering the state assembly due to Covid-19 health concerns.

       On whether former mentri besar Datuk Osman Sapian, who suffered a stroke last month, would attend the meeting, Suhaizan said his office has yet to receive a letter from the Kempas assemblyman on the matter.