When Johor assembly reconvenes, maverick Osman expects two scenarios

Kempas assemblyperson Osman Sapian foresees two possibilities come Sept 10 when the Johor legislative assembly reconvenes.

"I am still a member of Bersatu. If I'm sacked by Sept 10, I will sit in the independent bench.

"If I am not sacked... I will sit (at my usual seat) next to Gambir assemblyperson Muhyiddin Yassin," he said, according to Berita Harian.

Osman is expected to face disciplinary action because he was on the stump for the Pejuang candidate during the recently concluded Slim by-election campaign.

Formal complaints against Osman has been lodged with the party's disciplinary board.

Currently, Perikatan Nasional, which Osman is supposed to be part of, controls the Johor assembly with 29 seats while the opposition holds 27 seats.

A single crossover from PN would result in a hung assembly. Currently, the speaker is Suhaizan Kayat, who is not an elected lawmaker.

On his campaigning activities, Osman said there was nothing wrong with him publicly rooting for Amir Khusyairi Mohamad Tanusi since he was technically an independent candidate.

"Is it wrong for me to support an independent since Bersatu is not formally part of Muafakat Nasional?

"Maybe Amir Khusyairi might join Bersatu. Who knows?" asked Osman.

Although Amir Khusyairi stood as an independent candidate, he was backed by a yet-to-be formalised party known as Pejuang, which is led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir and his followers were booted from Bersatu in May, despite him being the party founder.

Regardless of his recent antics, Osman said he still "loved" Bersatu, a party which he had helped build.

"I leave it to the leadership to make a decision. They are in power. I accept whatever they want to do to me.

"I still love Bersatu. I was among those who set up Bersatu in Johor. I spent time, energy and money because, at the time, Bersatu had nothing (in Johor)," he said. - Mkini