Mukhriz sworn in as 10th Kedah Menteri Besar

ALOR SETAR: Kedah Barisan Nasional ( BN) deputy chairman Datuk Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir was sworn in yesterday as the menteri besar of Kedah at the Istana Anak Bukit here.

Mukhriz, 49, took his oath of office, to become the 10th menteri besar of Kedah after independence, before Kedah Council of Regency chairman Tan Sri Tunku Annuar Sultan Badlishah and two other members, Tan Sri Tunku Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah and Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah.

Also present at the event were Mukhriz’s parents, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali; Kedah BN chairman Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah and Mukhriz’s wife Datin Norzieta Zakaria.

Former Kedah menteribesar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak, who helmed the previous state government, led by PAS, did not attend the function as he is believed to be unwell.

In the 13th General Election on Sunday, the BN won 21 of the 36 seats in the state legislative assembly to wrest the state from Pakatan Rakyat and form the new state government.

In the general election, Mukhriz won the Ayer Hitam state seat, beating Abd Ghani Ahmad of PAS by 2,446 votes.

In the general election in 2008, Mukhriz won the Jerlun parliamentary seat and, after Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak became the prime minister in 2009, was appointed the deputy minister of international trade and industry.

Addressing reporters after taking his oath, Mukhriz said he was touched by the appointment proposed by Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“I am ready to take up the challenge as best as I can,” he said. — Bernama