Johor govt not affected by opposition labelling IBR as 'political gimmick'

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the IBR was probably a small step for the opposition, but it would complement the many moves taken by the state government in fighting corruption.

"Whether the IBR is a policy or just a political gimmick, that is up to the people and how they see it.

"If they are optimistic, it is surely a progressive policy and should be welcomed, but if they are pessimistic, they will see it just as a political gimmick," he said during the winding up session at the State Assembly sitting here today.

The menteri besar said the state government''s commitment to become a trustworthy government was neither seasonal nor rhetorical, let alone due to the corruption cases involving civil servants in the state.

"In the opposition''s eyes, the state government has done nothing right. For them, what is right and beneficial are just those being done the opposition-led government in Penang or Selangor, or probably Kelantan.

"For me, this kind of mindset is not only skeptical, pessimistic and prejudice, but also toxic.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Khaled said the sitting proved that the opposition was being immature and refused to see Johor being successfully administered by the state government.

All this while, he said the government had yet to see or hear any constructive ideas from the opposition, especially relating to efforts to strengthen the education system in religious school, to empower the Malay language to encourage Malays to live in urban areas, or even relating to the implementation of mega projects in the state.

"None of the opposition representatives has come out with a concrete alternative plan on how to proceed and manage the mega property projects in Johor, such as the Forest City project, which they had criticised so bluntly," he said.