We serve all, says Perak's PAS MB
Malaysiakini.com
Mar 24, 2008
Beh Lih Yi

The DAP-PKR-PAS coalition in Perak will be fair to all races, said Perak Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin today in the wake of criticism that his government has too few Malay Malaysians representives. MCPX

He said this in response to concerns that the rights of the Malays will be undermined and the protest against the state’s executive council line-up.

mohammad nizar jamaluddin"The new state government will serve the interest of all the rakyat, it will be fair and govern based on (the standard of) good governance," Perak Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Yesterday, some 20 Malay-based NGOs said the racial composition of the new 10-member exco line-up was not reflective of the state’s population.

Commenting on this, he said the NGOs have the right to voice their unhappiness and the menteri besar described this as "normal."

The NGOs, led by the Young Malay Professionals (Prowaris), said they will send a petition Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak to protest against the state exco’s racial composition.

"The petition is to ensure the palace looks into the fair racial composition of the state exco members based on the large Malay population in the state," said Prowaris spokesperson Nonee Ashirin Mohd Radzi.

Nonee was also quoted as saying that the NGOs are against the creation of a deputy menteri besar post as "it would only serve the interests of DAP to monopolise the administration of the state government."

‘Look beyond race’

Nizar, from PAS, was sworn in as menteri besar last week but the names of his state exco line-up have yet to be announced.

perak state seat breakdownNevertheless, under an agreement, DAP, PKR and PAS which jointly won 31 seats against Barisan Nasional’s 28 will be allocated six seats (DAP), three (PKR) and one seat (PAS) respectively in the state excos.

Whereas for the posts of deputy menteris besar, Sitiawan state assemblyperson Ngeh Koo Ham (DAP) and a PKR state assemblyperson are expected to be fill the slots.

DAP, PKR and PAS won 18, seven and six state seats in the March 8 election respectively. Although PAS has the smallest number of seats, the state constitution however stipulates that the menteri besar post must be held by a Malay.

Meanwhile, Nizar said despite the protest, the state government will follow the 6-3-1 distribution formula.

He was however uncertain when the exco line-up - which was expected to be unveiled today - will be announced as he was still awaiting for consent from the palace.

Meanwhile, DAP Pantai Remis state assemblyperson and Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming, when contacted, urged people to look at the issue beyond race and religion.

"We are a coalition government for all anak Malaysia, it transcends race and religion," he said.

However, DAP’s Ngeh declined to comment when contacted.

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