Perikatan Nasional has formed the state government after winning 33 of the 36 state assembly seats in the Aug 12 polls. PAS won 22 seats, Bersatu 10 and Gerakan one.
Berita Harian yesterday reported that Kedah Bersatu was unhappy the party would be given only three exco posts.
Bersatu previously had five executive councillors in Kedah, and a party insider was quoted as saying Bersatu regretted that such a small number were allocated despite the party having won 10 seats in the state election.
PAS’s seven executive councillors include menteri besar Sanusi Nor, who holds eight portfolios in the new state government, compared with seven in the previous term.
Sanusi, who is also the Jeneri assemblyman, heads the committees for state planning; land, mineral and geoscience; finance; state-linked companies; State Economic Action Council; development; and external relations.
The swearing-in of the executive councillors was held before Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah at Istana Anak Bukit this morning.
The seven new faces are Azam Samat (Sungai Limau), Haim Hilman Abdullah (Jitra), Mansor Zakaria (Kuala Ketil), Dzowahir Abd Ghani (Suka Menanti), Salleh Saidin (Kubang Rotan), Radhi Mat Din (Alor Mengkudu) and Wong Chia Zhen (Kulim).
Siti Aishah Ghazali (Merbau Pulas), Halimaton Shaadiah Saad (Bukit Kayu Hitam), and Mohamad Yusoff @ Munir Zakaria (Kuala Nerang) retained their previous portfolios.
The full list of state executive councillors list and their portfolios:
- Sanusi Nor (PAS) – state planning; land, mineral and geoscience; finance; state-linked companies, State Economic Action Council; development; external relations.
- Siti Aishah Ghazali (PAS) – rural areas, poverty eradication, human development.
- Azam Samat (PAS) – education, religion, communication, information.
- Haim Hilman Abdullah (PAS) – industry and investment, higher education, science, technology, innovation.
- Radhi Mat Din (PAS) -consumer affairs and cost of living, youth and sports.
- Mansor Zakaria (PAS) -housing, local government, health.
- Halimaton Shaadiah Saad (Bersatu) – welfare, women, family and society wellness, unity.
- Mohamad Yusoff @ Munir Zakaria (PAS) -public works, natural resources, water supply, environment.
- Dzowahir Abd Ghani (Bersatu) – agriculture, farming, transportation.
- Salleh Saidin (Bersatu) -tourism, culture, entrepreneurship.
- Wong Chia Zhen (Gerakan) – human resources; Chinese, Indian, and Siamese communities; NGOs.