‘Appointment of Selangor Speaker based on consensus’
SHAH ALAM: The appointment of Sekinchan assemblyman Ng Suee Lim as the new Speaker of the Selangor Legislative Assembly ( DUN) is based on consensus of all members of the House, said Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari.
He refuted an allegation that there was a tussle for the post between PKR and DAP as discussion on the matter was held in harmony.
“In the discussion, we weigh all possibilities and in the end a consensus was reached with one candidate getting unanimous support,” he told reporters after the swearing in of all but one of the 56 Selangor assemblymen at the first meeting of the first session of the 14th Selangor DUN which convened here yesterday.
Sungai Kandis assemblyman Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei was absent due to health reasons.
Amirudin, who is the assemblyman for Sungai Tua, was sworn in first, followed by the 10 state executive councillors and then the rest of the assemblymen.
Earlier, Ng, 47, who is the Selangor DAP publicity secretary, took his oath of office as the new Speaker.
He takes over from former Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh who is now the MP for Segambut.
Paya Jaras assemblyman Mohd Khairuddin Othman, 47, of PKR, was elected the new Deputy Speaker.
He takes over from former Bangi assemblyman Mohd Shafie Ngah of PAS.
Ng’s appointment saw DAP once again given the Selangor DUN Speaker’s post for the third consecutive term since Pakatan Rakyat (now Pakatan Harapan) took over Selangor in the 12th general election in 2008.
In 2008, the Selangor DUN Speaker was then Sungai Pinang (now Bandar Baru Klang) assemblyman Datuk Teng Chang Khim, while Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh Tseow Suan was appointed to the post in 2013 when Pakatan Rakyat retained its power in the state.
On the portfolio of state executive council (exco) member Rodziah Ismail, who is Batu Tiga assemblyman, Amirudin said she would take over his portfolio prior to his appointment as Menteri Besar with some changes to be made which would be announced today.
On his portfolio, Amirudin said he would likely take over the portfolio held by his predecessor, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, who had been appointed the Economic Affairs Minister.
He said there were the Permanent Committee on Finance, Land Development and Natural Resources Management, Selangor Economic Action Council and Strategic Communication.
Prior to his appointment as Menteri Besar, Amirudin was the exco for Empowerment of the Young Generation and Sports, Entrepreneur Development, and Rural and Traditional Village Development.
Meanwhile, Ng, when met by reporters, gave the assurance that he would assure a smooth and fair sitting of the Selangor DUN. — Bernama