Chief minister Ab Rauf Yusoh proposed Kerk for the post. It was seconded by Rais Yasin, the senior exco of housing, local government, irrigation, climate change, and disaster management.

Kerk’s nomination was supported by 24 assemblymen, while two abstained and two were absent when the vote was called at the state assembly sitting today.

Tabling the proposal, Rauf said Kerk, a two-term assemblyman, possessed wide experience in administration and politics.

“The Melaka-born Kerk’s father (the late) Kerk Kim Hock was the Durian Daun assemblyman from 1986 to 1990. Kerk (Chee Yee) has a degree in trade and accountancy from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and has been active in politics since 2017,” he said.

Rauf said Kerk had also served as political secretary to DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang and was the executive councillor in charge of communications, multimedia, NGOs, youth, and sports from 2018 to 2020, under the former Pakatan Harapan state government.

Rauf’s proposal to nominate Melaka Umno secretary Mustafa Musa as a senator was also approved by the state assembly with the same number of votes.

The appointment of Mustafa, who is also the Alor Gajah Umno division deputy chief, is for a three-year term beginning today.

Kerk told reporters later that his appointment was another step taken by Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) that showed the unity of the Melaka state government.

“In the past few months following the formation of the unity government in Melaka, state executive councillors (excos) and deputy excos were appointed from among PH assemblymen,” he said.