Johor sultan meets Bersatu division chiefs, Mazlan absent

Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar today met with state Bersatu division chiefs at Istana Pasir Pelangi in Johor Bharu today.

However, notably absent from the meeting was Johor Bersatu chief Mazlan Bujang.

In a group photograph uploaded on the monarch's official Facebook page later, Sultan Ibrahim was seen flanked by Johor Menteri Besar Sahruddin Jamal and former menteri besar Osman Sapian, who is also the former state Bersatu chief.

The meeting comes two days after Sultan Ibrahim hosted a Hari Raya open house with Umno leaders at Istana Pasir Pelangi.

An Umno leader who attended the event had said the invitation for the opposition party leaders was "unprecedented". 

While Sultan Ibrahim had also met with the Johor exco comprising Pakatan Harapan leaders on the same day, the ruling coalition leaders at the time said they were unaware of any invitation specifically for the party leadership.

The meeting with the Bersatu division chiefs today would be the first Hari Raya gathering by a Harapan component at the party level with the Johor monarch.

The meeting today was led by Sahruddin, who yesterday announced that Sultan Ibrahim had consented to the meeting. 

Sahruddin succeded Osman as the new menteri besar last April while Mazlan succeded Osman as the Johor Bersatu chief.

After Osman resigned as menteri besar, Mazlan, an exco at the time, was dropped from the state government along with DAP's Tan Hong Pin. 

The duo had apparently courted the Johor monarch's displeasure.

The exco line-up reshuffle was a condition set by Sultan Ibrahim to consent to Sahruddin's appointment as the new menteri besar.