The Johor Housing and Real Property Board Bill, passed today by the legislative assembly, opened the floodgates on debate on whether the royal institution should be extended executive powers.

In its original form, the Bill contained clauses which gave the sultan powers to appoint the board members, determine remuneration, oversee board accounts and dissolve the board.

It resulted in pressure on Johor Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin, including from within BN, to amend the Bill.

The Bill was later amended, but Khaled insisted that the state had not tried to extend the sultan's powers as the Bill was to be read with the state constitution.