Pakatan Harapan assemblypersons in Johor have called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate allegations of corruption against Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

Senai assemblyperson Wong Shu Qi said opposition representatives were dissatisfied with Khaled's explanation in the House this morning.

"The menteri besar only clarified one allegation mentioned in the paper (witness' statement). There are many other doubts raised over the MB in the paper.

"Clarifications are needed as well and we think it is not proper for the MB to hide behind the OSA (Official Secrets Act).

“And it is more proper for the state government to call for an RCI to be formed to thoroughly investigate this case," she added.

The DAP lawmaker, who was accompanied by other Harapan representatives, was speaking to reporters after the state assembly adjourned its last sitting for the current session.

The opposition assemblypersons also carried placards which read “JO1” or “Johor Official 1”. This was a jibe based on the United States Department of Justice's 1MDB-related civil forfeiture suits which mentioned “Malaysian Official 1” or “MO1”.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan later confirmed that MO1 referred to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Meanwhile, Bukit Batu assemblyperson Jimmy Puah claimed that Khaled had attempted to intimidate Wong and hide behind the sub judice rule to avoid answering their questions.

"Actually in Malaysia, the sub judice rule is not relevant. It is a rule started in the UK and US to not influence a jury trial with common people.

"But in Malaysia, the jury trial has been abolished so the sub judice rule can't really be applied," he said.

Puah insisted that Khaled should provide a thorough explanation, beyond just a bare denial.

In his winding-up speech for the Budget 2018 in the House earlier today, Khaled had described the corruption allegations against him as “baseless, untrue and slander.”

The allegations were related to housing development projects in the state.

Last week, Wong, based on a leaked MACC witness statement that surfaced online, had questioned if Khaled received RM12 million in exchange for removing bumiputera restrictions for certain housing projects.

Wong also insisted that the MACC should clarify which parts of the documents were genuine and which parts were doctored, as alleged by certain quarters.

The witness statement was attributed to Amir Shariffuddin Abd Raub, who was charged alongside former Johor exco member Abdul Latif Bandi earlier this year for money laundering and graft.

The MACC later confirmed that the document was indeed leaked, while Amir Shariffuddin lodged a police report claiming that the document was doctored.

The case against Amir Shariffuddin and Abdul Latif was scheduled to go on trial at the Johor Sessions Court this morning.

Johor Amanah Youth chief Taquiddin Che Man questioned why a related charge was not pursued against Khaled.

"We want MACC to answer...according to the statement, the Johor MB was involved.

"Why is the Johor MB not charged? (But) Abdul Latif Bandi was charged," he said. 

Johor DAP assistant publicity secretary Sheikh Omar Ali, meanwhile, said their call was also made as they have little faith that Khaled would address such sensitive issues in the Dewan.

Meanwhile, “JO1” placards also appeared at the Seri Iskandar bus terminal this mornin,  where some 40 Harapan supporters and activists protested against Khaled's silence on the allegation.

The protesters demanded that the menteri besar step down pending an investigation.