Who could be Johor's next MB?
While BN has clearly stated for Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad as their choice to carry on with his administration should they win, PN and PH have kept mum over such deliberations.
With the campaign due to end in several hours, Johoreans now amped up their questions on who could possibly lead the state apart from Hasni.
PKR-PH-Muda
The most obvious choice for mentri besar from this coalition and its allies would be Maszlee Malik who is contesting in the Layang Layang state seat.
A former education minister and the MP for Simpang Renggam, he is considered among the heavyweights contending in the state polls apart from two other former PH Cabinet members, Johor Amanah deputy chief Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, who is contesting in Kota Iskandar and Amanah deputy president Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub who is contesting in Simpang Jeram.
Maszlee’s past experience in the Cabinet as well as being a vocal voice in Malaysian politics pushing for educational reforms could raise voters’ confidence that he is able to lead the state administration, according to party insiders.
“Maszlee is received well in Layang Layang. He is the MP here after all, but whether the issue of mentri besar is a concern to us in the campaign effort, it is definitely not.
“He is focusing on what he can do for the people here but If voters think he is the best to lead then that means he is doing the right thing,’’ said a PKR party insider who wish to remain anonymous.
PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has even given clues in his Ceramah on why Maszlee was chosen to contest in the state seat.
Anwar has also been campaigning more than a few times in Maszlee’s constituency, drawing assertions that there is special attention given to the Simpang Renggam MP.
However, Maszlee has often denied this assertion or whether the issue of mentri besar was even brought to his attention.
Other names such as Johor Amanah chief Aminolhuda Hassan, who is contesting in Parit Yaani, is also said to be in the running for menteri besar however such considerations are dependent on the number of seats won by the party and its partners.
In this state election, DAP will contest 14 seats, Amanah 16 seats, Muda 7 seats and PKR 20 seats.
Muda and PKR have clashed in the state seat of Larkin.
Dr Sahruddin Jamal for PN
While PN has not announced their menteri besar choice, the sole candidate seems to be former Johor mentri besar Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal who is defending his state seat in Bukit Kepong.
Dr Sahruddin had replaced Datuk Osman Sapian in April of 2019 and prior to his appointment as Menteri Besar, he was the executive councillor in charge of health, environment and agriculture under the PH government.
He was the menteri besar for 10 months prior to Hasni taking over.
Dr Sahruddin’s ability to managed crises have also been tested. He was the frontman to deal with the pollution of Sungai Kim Kim, Pasir Gudang in April of 2019 when 2,775 people were hospitalised.
As the menteri besar, he had even apologised to the people of Pasir Gudang in November of 2019, for the state government’s weaknesses following a spat of pollution in the area.
All this have raised confidence among PN's top leadership that he would be their best choice to lead the state administration.
“He is battle-tested yet approachable and humble. There is a great amount of confidence placed on Dr Sahruddin to lead if we won.
“Moreover Tan Sri Muhyiddin has retained for Dr Sahruddin to contest in Bukit Kepong so there is a huge level of trust there,’’ said a PN party insider who wished to remain anonymous.
Bukit Kepong and Bukit Pasir are both under the Pagoh parliamentary constituency, which is currently held by PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Muhyiddin is seen campaigning heavily in these areas to ensure PN candidates, including Dr Sahruddin's victory.
Datuk Shahruddin Md Salleh for Pejuang
While not much can be said about Pejuang without its most prominent leader, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the same sentence, many do wonder on who could possibly lead the state if his party is able to win.
Its most prominent candidate is Datuk Shahruddin Md Salleh who is also the party's state chief and Sri Gading MP.
Formerly the secretary-general of Bersatu, and the deputy works minister under the PH administration, Shahrudin were among a few lawmakers that had joined up with Pejuang after the Sheraton Move.
The 66-year-old will be contesting in Machap and is seen by many as among the senior figures in Johor politics after having won the Jorak state seat in 2008 and 2013 under the BN ticket.
Now leading Pejuang’s effort into the state election, many will depend on his capabilities to strategise and manage logistics for the party.
