KOTA ISKANDAR: The tabling of Johor's Budget 2022 began with a special prayer for former mentri besar Datuk Osman Sapian, who suffered a stroke in October.

       Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad said he wished the Kempas assemblyman, who is from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), a speedy recovery.

       “We have been informed that Osman cannot attend (the assembly sitting) due to health reasons and let us pray for his and his family's wellbeing,” he said in his speech during the tabling of the state Budget 2022 at Bangunan Sultan Ismail here on Thursday (Nov 18).

       Osman is still warded at Serdang Hospital after suffering a stroke at his Johor Baru home on Oct 13.

       He was the 16th Johor mentri besar and the first from Bersatu after the 2018 General Election.

       All other assemblymen were present at the budget tabling including Gambir assemblyman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is Bersatu president and Perikatan Nasional chairman.

       Muhyiddin has been embroiled in a spat with Johor Baru Umno division chief Tan Sri Shahrir Samad who had said his party was ready if Perikatan wanted to withdraw its support for the state government.

       Shahrir dared Muhyiddin to withdraw the coalition's support after the former prime minister had apparently said during a virtual ceramah on Thursday (Nov 11) night that if one or two assemblymen retracted support in Johor, the state government would collapse.

       Muhyiddin then said he had no qualms about doing so but would not take such action because he cares for the people of the state.

       “Don't challenge me. I'm the president of Bersatu and (chairman of) Perikatan Nasional. I'm thinking about the welfare of the people now, Shahrir isn't," he said.