YOUNG FACES IN KEDAH EXCO LINE-UP?
Mukhriz expected to field fresh exco line-up this week
DATUK Seri Mukhriz Mahathir is expected to have a fresh and young exco line-up after Pakatan Harapan (PH) was given the mandate to form a government in Kedah.
The menteri besar also has “seniors” to choose from to fill the line-up, with some of the elected representatives contesting under PKR having experience in state duties.
Besides Mukhriz, who is the state Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman, Kedah Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh and his deputy, Datuk Phahrolrazi Zawawi, were executive councillors when Kedah was under the Pas-led state government after the 2008 General Election.
Also with state executive councillor experience is Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah, the former state legislative assembly opposition leader after Barisan Nasional (BN) wrested the state in the 13th General Election.
However, it is learnt that Phahrolrazi and Amiruddin will not be joining the line-up, especially the latter, who won the Kubang Pasu parliamentary seat.
Mukhriz is expected to announce a 10-person line-up to fill the state executive council this week.
Ismail said although the pact had reached a verbal consensus on executive councillor ratio among the four parties that formed the pact, they needed to consider the number of seats won by each party.
Based on the 14th General Election (GE14) results, PKR won eight seats, PPBM won five seats, PAN three and DAP two.
“We have come to an agreement on who should fill the state executive council line-up but who will make it will only be known when the menteri besar makes the announcement,” he said.
It is learnt that the four parties had agreed on a 4:3:2:1 ratio for the 10 exco members for the state PH government.
According to the formula, PPBM will have four members in the line-up, followed by three (PKR), two (PAN) and one (DAP).
It is also learnt that the chairman of the four parties will make up the first four names in the list.
However, only Ismail and DAP state chairman Tan Kok Yew, who is Derga state assemblyman, will make the cut as PKR chairman Dr Azman Ismail did not contest the state seat.
Universiti Utara Malaysia Multimedia Technology and Communication senior lecturer Azahar Kassim said Mukhriz was expected to field young and fresh faces to work with him in developing the state.
He said among the potential line-up was Kota Siputeh assemblyman Dr Salmee Said from PAN and Bukit Selambau assemblyman Dr R. Summugam.
“Not forgetting Zamri Yusuf, who defeated former MB Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah.
“Mukhriz also needs to have a representative from Langkawi, the constituency that kicked off a major change in the national political landcape.”