Allahyarham Dato' Haji Osman bin Sapian (Jawi: عثمان بن سفيان; 25 December 1951 – 21 December 2021) was a Malaysian politician who served as the 16th Menteri Besar of Johor from May 2018 to his resignation in April 2019 and[1] Member of the Johor State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Kempas twice from November 1999 to May 2013 and from May 2018 to his death in December 2021. He was a member of the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU), a component party of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) and formerly Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalitions. He is also the second shortest-serving Menteri Besar of Johor after Sahruddin Jamal, serving in the position for only 328 days.

Allahyarham Dato' Haji
Osman Sapian
عثمان سفيان
16th Menteri Besar of Johor
In office
12 May 2018 – 14 April 2019
MonarchIbrahim Iskandar
Preceded byMohamed Khaled Nordin
Succeeded bySahruddin Jamal
Faction represented in Johor State Legislative Assembly
1999–2013Barisan Nasional
2018–2020Pakatan Harapan
2020Malaysian United Indigenous Party
2020–2021Perikatan Nasional
Personal details
Born
Osman bin Sapian

(1951-12-25)25 December 1951
Segamat, Johor, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia)[1]
Died21 December 2021(2021-12-21) (aged 69)
Damansara, Selangor
Resting placeAr-Raudhah Muslim Cemetery, Mount Austin, Johor Bahru
CitizenshipMalaysian
Political partyUnited Malays National Organisation (UMNO)
(–2016)
Malaysian United Indigenous Party (BERSATU)
(2016–2021)
Other political
affiliations
Barisan Nasional (BN) (until 2016)
Pakatan Harapan (PH)
(2016–2020)
Perikatan Nasional (PN)
(2020–2021)
OccupationPolitician
WebsiteOsman Sapian on Facebook

Politics

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Prior to joining BERSATU during its formation in 2016, he was a member and MLA of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a component party of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition before he was dropped as the BN candidate in the 2013 general election.

In the 2018 general election (GE14), he contested and regained the Kempas state seat but as an opposition Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the first time and was appointed the new first Johor Menteri Besar from BERSATU when PH won the GE14 afterwards.[2] In April 2019, Osman resigned from office 11 months after leading the state.[3]

Controversy

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Education Credentials

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Osman Sapian courted controversy when his academic qualification listed on the government portal included a bachelor's degree from Universiti Putra Malaysia. Upon investigation, it was found that he did not graduate from the university and had dropped out. Osman later clarified that it was a mistake and that he had never claimed to have graduated. His distorted academic credentials on all state government websites were taken down later.[4]

Malaysia-Singapore disputed waters boat ride and visit

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In January 2019, as the Johor Menteri Besar, Osman made a boat ride to visit a Malaysian Marine Department vessel that was anchored in Malaysia-Singapore disputed waters which had raised protest from Singapore.[5] In response to his visit, Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said in a ministerial statement in Parliament that both sides must act in "good faith" to overcome bilateral issues.[6]

Batam visit amid Kim Kim River toxic crisis

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Osman had visited Batam Island, Riau, Indonesia in March 2019 amid the toxic pollution crisis of Kim Kim River, Pasir Gudang, Johor. He explained that it was working visit that was preplanned for the preparations of the visit to Johor in 2020 year and had been shortened from 3 days to 1 day trip.[7] Osman had been blamed for neglecting the urgent matter at home as a state government chief.[8]

Resignation as Chief Minister of Johor

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On 8 April 2019, Osman tendered his resignation as Menteri Besar of Johor.[3] The Johor Sultan officially accepted Osman's resignation on 13 April 2019.[9] The Menteri Besar role, also known as the Chief Minister, is the highest political position in the State of Johor. The position is traditionally nominated by the Prime Minister of Malaysia who commands the majority of state legislators. The nominee is then approved and officially appointed by the Sultan of Johor.

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, was known to be unhappy with Osman Sapian following several decisions that he had made against the federal government's direction.[10]

His resignation came amidst a public disagreement between the royal family of Johor and Tun Dr Mahathir, the Prime Minister of Malaysia.[11]

On 4 September, his BERSATU membership was voided with immediate effect after he was spotted stumping for Dr. Mahathir's new Homeland Fighters' Party (PEJUANG) during the 2020 Slim by-election campaign period.[12] However at same time Bersatu Secretary-General Hamzah Zainudin said, Osman Sapian still remained a member of BERSATU as Osman would only be called to explain regardining allegations of helping the Independent candidate campaign in the by-election, and no action has yet been taken.[13]

Personal life and death

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On 13 October 2021, Osman was admitted to the KPJ Johor Specialist Hospital after suffering a mild stroke.[14] Osman died on 21 December 2021 at the age of 69 in Damansara from the complications of the stroke he suffer earlier four days before his 70th birthday.[15] He was buried at the Ar-Raudhah Muslim Cemetery in Mount Austin, Johor Bahru.[16]

Election results

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Johor State Legislative Assembly[17][18][19][20][21]
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1999 N36 Kempas Osman Sapian (UMNO) 21,178 73.57% Mohidin Yahya Shamsudin (PAS) 6,890 23.94% 28,785 14,288 69.46%
2004 N47 Kempas Osman Sapian (UMNO) 19,088 84.30% Ibrahim Masran (PAS) 3,170 14.00% 22,644 15,918 72.24%
2008 Osman Sapian (UMNO) 15,897 65.96% Suhaizan Kayat (PAS) 7,711 31.99% 24,102 8,186 73.13%
2018 Osman Sapian (BERSATU) 21,137 48.70% Ramlee Bohani (UMNO) 11,959 27.60% 35,883 9,178 82.70%
Dzulkifli Suleiman (PAS) 2,321 5.40%

Honours

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Honours of Malaysia

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Bangsa Johor will be upheld". The Star (Malaysia). 13 May 2018.
  2. ^ Zazali Musa (12 May 2018). "Osman Sapian is the new Johor MB, exco to be sworn in on May 15 (updated)". The Star. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Osman Sapian quits as Johor MB". Malaysiakini. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Johor MB Osman Sapian admits he did not complete his studies; education credentials removed from govt portal". The Straits Times.
  5. ^ "Singapore describes Johor MB's boat ride into disputed waters a 'provocative act'". The Star. 13 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  6. ^ "Johor Chief Minister defends visit to Malaysia vessel anchored in Singapore waters". Channel News Asia. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Johor MB defends Batam visit as working trip". The Star. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Johor MB explains Batam visit amid toxic crisis at home". Malaysiakini. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  9. ^ "Johor Sultan accepts Osman's resignation, Sahruddin tipped to be next MB". The Star Online. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  10. ^ Ong, Justin. "Sources: Dr M unhappy with exiting MB's resolve against Johor palace | Malay Mail". www.malaymail.com. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  11. ^ "Johor chief minister Osman Sapian quits as Malaysia's monarchs and Mahathir crank up war of words". South China Morning Post. 9 April 2019.
  12. ^ Ramlan, Yasmin (4 September 2020). "Ex-Johor MB loses Bersatu membership ahead of state assembly sitting". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Osman Sapian masih ahli Bersatu- Setiausaha Agung". 4 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Ex-Johor MB Osman Sapian suffers mild stroke". Bernama. Astro Awani. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  15. ^ Mohd Farhaan Shah. "Ex-Johor MB Osman Sapian passes away". The Star. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  16. ^ "Former Johor MB laid to rest". Rizalman Hammim. New Straits Times. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  17. ^ "Malaysia Decides 2008". The Star. Archived from the original on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2010. Includes 2004 election results. Results from earlier elections not available.
  18. ^ "Keputusan Pilihan Raya Umum Parlimen/Dewan Undangan Negeri" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 19 June 2010. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  19. ^ "Malaysia General Election". undiinfo Malaysian Election Data. Malaysiakini. Retrieved 4 February 2017. Results only available from the 2004 election.
  20. ^ "SEMAKAN KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE – 14" (in Malay). Election Commission of Malaysia. Retrieved 17 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  21. ^ "The Star Online GE14". The Star. Retrieved 24 May 2018. Percentage figures based on total turnout.
  22. ^ "Receiving (Medal) Ahli Mangku Negara from the late Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 1998". Osman Sapian Instagram. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  23. ^ "Receiving a (medal) from the late Sultan of Johor in 1999". Osman Sapian Instagram. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  24. ^ "Johor Sultan names grandson as Raja Muda, second heir to throne". Ben Tan. Malay Mail. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  25. ^ "SEMAKAN PENERIMA DARJAH KEBESARAN, BINTANG DAN PINGAT". Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia). Retrieved 25 October 2018.
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Political offices
Preceded by 16th Menteri Besar of Johor
2018–2019
Succeeded by