ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor government will set up a select committee to look into ways of further empowering the state legislative assembly, says Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

       Onn Hafiz said leaders from both the government and opposition would be involved in discussions to improve the assembly.

       “We will further empower the Johor state assembly. The state government is also considering setting up other committees.

       “These discussions would not only involve Barisan Nasional's leaders but also the opposition leaders for the benefit of all Johoreans,” he told reporters at Bangunan Sultan Ismail, Kota Iskandar after the state assembly sitting here on Thursday (April 21).

       On a separate matter, Onn Hafiz said the state government will also be focusing on implementing an anti-party hopping law to prevent politicians from switching parties.

       “I have recently met with Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and was informed that there is some technical issue in the effort to refine the anti-party hopping Bill at Federal level.

       “At state level, we will take on a similar effort to ensure that elected leaders can no longer betray the mandate given to them.

       “Anything happening at Federal level would surely have an impact on Johor. For example, they are looking at amending Article 10 of the Federal Constitution and we need to liaise with them to see if it will have any impact on us,” he said.

       Earlier, during the state assembly sitting, Umno supreme council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi was appointed as the new Speaker while former state agriculture and agro-based committee chairman Datuk Samsolbari Jamali was appointed as his deputy.

       They replaced former speaker Suhaizan Kayat and deputy Gan Peck Cheng, who held the posts since 2018.

       The sitting also saw the swearing-in ceremony for all 56 assemblymen following the Johor election last month.