Bersatu Tebrau division chief Mazlan Bujang has been named as the party’s new Johor liaison chairperson replacing the former menteri besar Osman Sapian.
“I think he has been given a letter of appointment,” Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad told the media at Putrajaya todayA.
Several days ago, speculation was rife that Mazlan, who was dropped from the Exco last week, would be appointed as the new Johor Bersatu chairperson.
Mazlan’s appointment is a departure from the norm in that the menteri besar would usually hold the position of the state chairperson.
Instead, Johor’s new menteri besar Sahruddin Jamal, who replaced Osman Sapian, becomes the Johor Bersatu secretary, which is an appointed post. He does not have an elected position within his own branch or division in the party.
Citing a source, the Malay Mail reported that Mazlan, who is Puteri Wangsa assemblyman, has been endorsed for the position as the Bersatu senior leadership acknowledged his role as an instrumental advocate of the party’s interests in Johor.
“He (Mazlan) has managed to establish many Bersatu branches in the Tebrau constituency and has also assisted in actively promoting the party within Johor,” the source was quoted as saying.
Another source close to the state Bersatu leadership said Mazlan’s appointment was not surprising as the 54-year-old has a proven track record as the former Johor public works, infrastructure and transportation committee chairman.
“Despite being dropped from his exco post earlier this month, Mazlan took it positively and still continued to establish more branches and grow the membership under the party.
“At the same time, he has maintained solid ties with Bersatu’s central leadership and can effectively bridge the gap with the party’s state members.”
Also quoting a source, Berita Harian reported that Mazlan’s appointment was an order from the central leadership.
It is learned that the majority of 26 Bersatu division chiefs had agreed with the appointment while three others disagreed.
However, Johor Bersatu media director Solihan Badri dismissed the rumour that a vote took place during the meeting.
“There was none. It was just a meeting where we were briefed on the instructions by the central leadership and the division chiefs expressed their views on the matter,” he told the media.
Late last night, former lawyer to the Johor palace Kamal Hisham Jaafar uploaded a picture of Mazlan holding what appeared to be an appointment letter together with Dr Mahathir in the prime minister’s office in Putrajaya.
The picture was accompanied by Kamal Hisham’s congratulations to Mazlan on the appointment as the Johor Bersatu state liaison chairman, which appeared to confirm earlier speculation.
Several days ago, rumours began appearing that he would succeed Osman in the state chapter.
Mazlan is known to be aligned to Dr Mahathir and Bersatu supreme council member Datuk A Kadir Jasin.
Mazlan’s choice is seen as equalising the party’s state leadership as Sahruddin is considered aligned with Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Mazlan had been among those expected to be the next menteri besar following Osman’s resignation on April 8.
After he was dropped as an exco, Mazlan sparked controversy when he declared that he was not part of Sahruddin’s “team”.