Johor chief minister Osman Sapian quits as Malaysia’s monarchs and Mahathir crank up war of words

Mahathir’s confirmation of Osman’s resignation ends speculation that Johor’s sultan wanted the minister removed

A replacement has not been named, though the prime minister said one will be found from within his own United Indigenous Party of Malaysia

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Published: 8:37pm, 9 Apr 2019Updated: 10:07pm, 10 Apr 2019

An ally of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad who was serving as the chief minister of the state of Johor quit on Tuesday amid a growing tussle between the 93-year-old statesman and the state’s powerful monarchs.

Mahathir told local reporters that Osman Sapian, a member of his Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (United Indigenous Party of Malaysia), had tendered his resignation on Monday.

The confirmation ended mounting speculation that the Johor monarch, Sultan Ibrahim Ismail, wanted Osman removed from his post.

“We will have to discuss the replacement but in line with the Pakatan Harapan agreement, the Johor menteri besar [chief minister] will have to be from Bersatu,” said Mahathir.

Malaysia’s prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. Photo: Bloomberg

The prime minister’s Malay-centric party is one of four members of the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition that ousted the powerful Barisan Nasional bloc of former prime minister Najib Razak last May.

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