Menteri besar Saarani Mohamad (BN-Kota Tampan) nominated Zahir and the nomination was seconded by the human resources, health and Indian community affairs committee chairman A Sivanesan (PH-Sungkai).
Canning assemblyman Jenny Choy Tsi Jen was previously appointed as deputy speaker.
All but one of the 59 state assemblymen took the oath of office at the first meeting of the first session of the 15th state legislative assembly, including opposition leader Razman Zakaria, who won the Gunung Semanggol state seat.
Only Kepayang assemblyman Nga Kor Ming was absent as he was involved with the Dewan Rakyat sitting, which also took place this morning.
In his speech, Zahir, a former Kamunting assemblyman, advised assemblymen to be on their best behaviour during debates and asked for the cooperation of all parties to ensure that the session runs smoothly.
Today’s session was adjourned and will continue tomorrow for the opening ceremony to be graced by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah.
On Nov 21, Saarani was appointed as the new Perak menteri besar before he announced the portfolios of all 10 members of the state executive council.
Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) agreed to form the Perak government following last month’s general election (GE15), where PH won 24 seats and BN took nine, while Perikatan Nasional (PN) managed to obtain 26 seats.
Meanwhile, in KANGAR, Perlis PAS deputy commissioner Rus’sele Eizan took his oath of office as the new state legislative assembly speaker during the first meeting of the first session of the 15th Perlis state legislative assembly today.
Fifteen assemblymen were also sworn in namely, Izizam Ibrahim (PN-Titi Tinggi), Haziq Asyraf Dun (PN-Beseri), Saad Seman (PN-Chuping), Wan Badariah Wan Saad (PN-Mata Ayer), Azmir Azizan (PN-Santan) and Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (PN-Bintong).
Also sworn in were Marzita Mansor (PN-Sena), Gan Ay Ling (PKR-Indera Kayangan), Abu Bakar Hamzah (PN-Kuala Perlis), Asrul Aimran Abd Jalil (PN-Kayang), Megat Hashirat Hassan (PN-Pauh), Wan Zikri Afthar Ishak (PN-Tambung Tulang), Ridzuan Hashim (PN-Guar Sanji), Razali Saad (PN-Simpang Empat) and Shukri Ramli (PN-Sanglang).
In GE15, the PN coalition won 14 state seats while PKR only managed to secure the Indera Kayangan seat.