Perak state exco sworn in today
Malaysiakini.com
Mar 29, 2008

After much speculation and deliberation on the line-up among the three parties of the coalition state government, Perak's state executive councillors were finally sworn this morning. MCPX

Bernama reported that six state assemblymen from DAP, three from PKR and one from PAS took their oath of office as state excos before the Regent of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, at Istana Iskandariah at 11.10am.

mohammad nizar jamaluddin sworn in as perak mb with perak regent nazrin 170308The DAP assemblymen were Ngeh Koo Ham (Sitiawan), Nga Kor Ming (Pantai Remis), Su Keong Siong (Pasir Pinji), Chen Fook Chye (Keranji), Seah Leong Peng (Pasir Bedamar) and A Sivanesan (Sungkai).

Meanwhile the PKR assemblymen were Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang), Tai Sing Ng (Kuala Sepetang) and Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu (Changkat Jering) and the PAS assemblyman was Mohd Zainudin Mohd Yusof (Lubuk Merbau).

All the assemblymen were handed their letters of appointment after which they were sworn in and signed them before palace officials and their Barisan Nasional contemporaries.

No portfolios announced

This ended speculation on the alleged discord among the coalition partners on the formation of the state government and distribution of the executive council posts.

However, no announcement was made on the portfolios of the councillors or the two posts of deputy mentri besar.

During the general election on March 8, DAP secured the highest number of seats in the state assembly with 18, followed by PKR with seven and PAS with six.

While the coalition government overcame its first hurdle of supporting the Sultan’s selection of the mentri besar from PAS, it has since been scrambling to resolve the allocation of exco posts.

Immediately after Pasir Panjang assemblyperson Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin was named menteri besar and took his oath of office on March 17, he announced that two deputies would be appointed.

According to Nizar, the two posts were to be filled with representatives of the Chinese and the Indian community respectively. However, this plan has purportedly faced resistance from the palace.

It is understood that a tussle has also arisen over the distribution of portfolios among the incoming exco.

DAP has publicly hinted that it is keen for its representative to be given the portfolio on land matters - one of the most powerful and important positions in the state.

Meanwhile, PAS has argued that the portfolio is usually held by the mentri besar, as is also the case in the DAP-led Penang government and PKR-led Selangor government.

Terengganu exco last

With the swearing in of the Perak exco, this leaves Terengganu as the only state that has yet to formulate its governing body.

sultan mizan king pak lah ahmad said idris jusoh and terengganuHowever, Terengganu exco members are expected to be sworn in tomorrow together with their new Menteri Besar, Ahmad Said.

The ceremony is expected to take place at Istana Maziah in Kuala Terengganu.

It is believed that Ahmad was in Putrajaya yesterday to submit a list of exco members to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for approval.

Ahmad was appointed as menteri besar by the Terengganu palace last Sunday and he assumed his post on Tuesday. The palace clarified that his swearing-in could wait until the exco lineup has been finalised.

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