JOHOR BARU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had an audience with Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar to seek his consent over the appointment of the next mentri besar and the state executive council line-up.

Najib arrived at Istana Pasir Pelangi at around 9.40am yesterday, accompanied by Permas assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who has been touted as the most likely candidate by sources.

They spent almost an hour with the Sultan and it is learned that apart from getting consent for Khaled's appointment as Mentri Besar, the proposed state exco line-up was also presented to the Ruler for his approval.

The swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place at Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim in Bukit Timbalan here on Tuesday as the Istana Besar is still under renovation.

Mohamed Khaled is expected to take over from Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, who took office on May 3, 1995.

The state's new mentri besar is expected to announce a mix of old and new faces in the state line-up.

Most will be new faces as only four incumbent exco members contested and won in GE13.

They are Datuk Maulizan Bujang (Tiram), Asiah Ariff (Johor Lama), M. Asojan (Gambir) and Md Jais Sarday (Mahkota).

Barisan sources said one of Mohamed Khaled's concerns was the two positions usually reserved for MCA.

“If MCA does not take up the posts, then Pemanis candidate Lau Chin Hoon may be asked to step in even though Gerakan has never been in the state line-up,'' said a source.

MIC's R. Vidyananthan, who is a second term assemblyman, may also be considered for an exco position.

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