The controversial Johor Housing and Property Board Bill 2014 was passed by the state assembly today.
However, Pakatan Rakyat assemblypersons, who make up 18 out of 56 members of the House, did not raise their hands to signify support for the bill.
The bill was first tabled at 2.30pm after 10 amendments were made, which reduced powers it had earlier accorded to the sultan.
Even during the committee stage of the debate session, the opposition assemblypersons did not raise their hands to support the amendments.
Some DAP assemblypersons, including the Oppositon Leader Dr Boo Cheng Hau (Skudai), Wong Shu Qi (Senai) and Yeo Tung Siong (Pekan Nanas) had called for certain clauses, which they claimed would open to corruption and abuse of power, to be amended.
However, their suggestions were shot down by the majority voting from BN side, after an explanation from the state executive councillor member Abd Latiff Bandi.
Speaking to the press during a break in the sitting, Boo, who is Johor Opposition Leader (right) said the state government has the right to table the amended bill after the second reading, which is before the voting session and the third reading, according to the standing orders of the House.
"We are making a law right now. We must be very professional and serious about it," Boo said.
He reiterated the stand of Johor Pakatan Rakyat, urging the state government to defer the tabling of the bill and for a state assembly select committee to scrutinise it.
“The amended parts (of the bill) are too extensive, we need more time to examine it,” Boo said.
Meanwhile, Senai assemblyperson Wong (left), who said she would take part in the debate on the bill after its second reading, slammed the state government for being unprofessional.
Wong said she was kept in the dark over the amended bill as Johor Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin only made a general announcement on it, without giving further details.
“We hardly know the contents of the final version of the bill and how it looks like.
“We can only debate based on several key points that were mentioned by the menteri besar,” she added.
Malaysiakini in an exclusive report last Wednesday revealed that the Johor Housing and Real Property Board Bill 2014 will empower the Johor sultan to appoint the board members, oversee its accounts and even dissolve the board.
The board, which aims to promote and undertake the development of housing and real estate property in Johor, could result in conflict of interest as the sultan is a key player in the state.
Yesterday, Khaled softened his position and announced that the bill would be amended so as not to extend as much power to the sultan after the issue attracted heated debate nationwide.
Flash mob at state assembly entrance
Earlier, Johor PAS Youth held a flash mob at the entrance of the state assembly building, where they reiterated the stand of the Johor Pakatan over the new Housing Bill and urged that its tabling be deferred.
Led by Johor PAS Youth chief Mohd Faizul Mohd Salleh (right), the event was attended by 12 members.
The flash mob was supposedly to begin at 8.30am this morning, according to the media invitation, but it was put off till 10am.
As all the reporters were gathering in the media centre of the state assembly building, focusing on the progress of the sitting, the flash mob went on without the attention of the media.
Johor PAS Youth secretary Mahadzir Mat Zilisu only distributed photos of the event to the media during the press conference which was held after the event.
Mahadzir explained that the reason they didn’t want to call the media to cover the event was because they were aware that the media was focusing on the sitting.
However, Pakatan Rakyat assemblypersons, who make up 18 out of 56 members of the House, did not raise their hands to signify support for the bill.
The bill was first tabled at 2.30pm after 10 amendments were made, which reduced powers it had earlier accorded to the sultan.
Even during the committee stage of the debate session, the opposition assemblypersons did not raise their hands to support the amendments.
Some DAP assemblypersons, including the Oppositon Leader Dr Boo Cheng Hau (Skudai), Wong Shu Qi (Senai) and Yeo Tung Siong (Pekan Nanas) had called for certain clauses, which they claimed would open to corruption and abuse of power, to be amended.
However, their suggestions were shot down by the majority voting from BN side, after an explanation from the state executive councillor member Abd Latiff Bandi.
Speaking to the press during a break in the sitting, Boo, who is Johor Opposition Leader (right) said the state government has the right to table the amended bill after the second reading, which is before the voting session and the third reading, according to the standing orders of the House."We are making a law right now. We must be very professional and serious about it," Boo said.
He reiterated the stand of Johor Pakatan Rakyat, urging the state government to defer the tabling of the bill and for a state assembly select committee to scrutinise it.
“The amended parts (of the bill) are too extensive, we need more time to examine it,” Boo said.
Meanwhile, Senai assemblyperson Wong (left), who said she would take part in the debate on the bill after its second reading, slammed the state government for being unprofessional.Wong said she was kept in the dark over the amended bill as Johor Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin only made a general announcement on it, without giving further details.
“We hardly know the contents of the final version of the bill and how it looks like.
“We can only debate based on several key points that were mentioned by the menteri besar,” she added.
Malaysiakini in an exclusive report last Wednesday revealed that the Johor Housing and Real Property Board Bill 2014 will empower the Johor sultan to appoint the board members, oversee its accounts and even dissolve the board.
The board, which aims to promote and undertake the development of housing and real estate property in Johor, could result in conflict of interest as the sultan is a key player in the state.
Yesterday, Khaled softened his position and announced that the bill would be amended so as not to extend as much power to the sultan after the issue attracted heated debate nationwide.
Flash mob at state assembly entrance
Earlier, Johor PAS Youth held a flash mob at the entrance of the state assembly building, where they reiterated the stand of the Johor Pakatan over the new Housing Bill and urged that its tabling be deferred.Led by Johor PAS Youth chief Mohd Faizul Mohd Salleh (right), the event was attended by 12 members.
The flash mob was supposedly to begin at 8.30am this morning, according to the media invitation, but it was put off till 10am.
As all the reporters were gathering in the media centre of the state assembly building, focusing on the progress of the sitting, the flash mob went on without the attention of the media.
Johor PAS Youth secretary Mahadzir Mat Zilisu only distributed photos of the event to the media during the press conference which was held after the event.Mahadzir explained that the reason they didn’t want to call the media to cover the event was because they were aware that the media was focusing on the sitting.
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