New Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian takes his oath of office before the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar in the Tapah Hall of Istana Bukit Serene in Johor Baru May 12, 2018. ― Picture courtesy of Johor Royal Press Office

JOHOR BARU, May 12 — Johor Pakatan Harapan (PH) secretary Datuk Osman Sapian was sworn in as the southern state’s 16th mentri besar today.

The 67-year-old Kempas assemblyman received his letter of appointment and took his oath office before the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, at the Tapah Hall of Istana Bukit Serene here at 3pm.

Also present were the Permaisuri of Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Idris Shah and the Tunku Mahkota Johor, Tunku Ismail Ibrahim.

Osman, from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), replaces Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin from Barisan Nasional (BN) who served as mentri besar for only one term.

The four-party PH pact won 36 state seats, while BN had 19 seats and PAS with one seat.

Osman had previously held the post as the Kempas BN assemblyman for three terms before being dropped from contesting in 2013. He later joined Umno splinter party PPBM.

Other witnesses to the ceremony were PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin; Johor PKR chairman Hassan Abdul Karim; Parti Amanah Negara deputy president Salahuddin Ayub and its Johor chairman Aminolhuda Hassan; Johor DAP chairman Liew Chin Tong; and Johor PPBM chairman Datuk Shahruddin Md Salleh.

Osman is expected to appoint 10 people to the state executive committee.