Datuk Abdul Latif Bandi dropped as Johor's Housing and Local Government executive committee chairman

JOHOR BARU: Datuk Abdul Latif Bandi has been dropped as the state's Housing and Local Government executive committee chairman in a minor reshuffle of the state exco which will take effect from Sunday (March 12).
Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said in a statement today that Education, Information, Entrepreneur Development and Co-operative committee chairman Datuk Md Jais Sarday will be the acting exco of State Housing and Local Government.
He said the minor reshuffle was needed as Abdul Latif had taken leave pending investigations involving his son and special officer who were arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) recently over alleged graft offences.
"The reshuffle will last till the MACC completes its probe into the case," Mohamed Khaled.
He added that Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar had consented to the reshuffle.
Meanwhile, Jais' portfolios will be shared by two exco members.
Health and Environment committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat will oversee the Education and Information committee, while Agriculture and Agro-based industry exco Ismail Mohamed will oversee the Entrepreneur Development and Co-operative portfolios.
On Feb 24, six men, including Abdul Latif's son and special officer, were arrested by the MACC for alleged involvement in a corruption and a property scam in the state.
While on Feb 28, a contractor, was also arrested in connection to the cases.
Subsequently, Abdul Latif, who is Endau state assemblyman, took leave from March 1.
Investigations by the anti-graft body revealed the suspects were allegedly in cahoots with civil servants from the Johor Land Office and other government departments in lowering the premium of land which had been approved for housing and industrial projects, as well as in converting the titles of various premises in the state.
This resulted in the state government losing millions of ringgit.