Malaysia swears in new chief minister of state of Johor, Dr Sahruddin Jamal
- Sahruddin took his oath of office in the morning before the Johor monarch, Sultan Ibrahim Ismail
- He replaces Osman Sapian, an ally of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad who quit earlier in the week amid mounting pressure from the palace
Dr Sahruddin Jamal, who was previously chairman of the state’s Health, Environment and Agriculture Committee, took his oath of office in the morning before the Johor monarch, Sultan Ibrahim Ismail, according to local newspaper The Star.
The 43-year-old doctor operated his own clinic before entering politics. He is a member of Mahathir’s Malaysian United Indigenous Party and has a wife and three daughters, state news agency Bernama reported.
Speaking to reporters after the swearing-in ceremony, Sahruddin said he has 14 days to appoint a new team of state executive councillors. He did not mention the names of any prospective candidates, The Star reports.
Johor chief minister quits amid war of words between Malaysia’s monarchs and Mahathir
There are currently 10 state executive councillors of Johor – four from the Democratic Action Party, and two each from the Malaysian United Indigenous Party, the National Trust Party and the People’s Justice Party.