Term for Ahmad Yakob

> Kelantan PAS chief sworn in as MB before Regent

KOTA BARU: Kelantan PAS commissioner Datuk Ahmad Yakob (pix) took the oath of office as Kelantan mentri besar for a second term yesterday following the mandate given by the people in the 14th general election (GE14).

Ahmad, 67, who won the Pasir Pekan state seat, was sworn in before the Regent of Kelantan Tengku Muhammad Faiz Petra at Istana Kota Lama.

The 11.30am ceremony was witnessed by the Tengku Temenggong of Kelantan Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Rizam Tengku Aziz, judicial commissioner Datuk Ahmad Bache, Kelantan state secretary Datuk Nazran Muhammad and the Kelantan mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad.

The swearing-in ceremony of the deputy mentri besar and members of the state executive council will be held later.

PAS, which has ruled Kelantan for 28 years, retained power after winning 37 of the 45 state seats, with the remaining going to Barisan Nasional (BN).

In KOTA KINABALU, State Reform Party (Star) has joined the Sabah BN to form the state government.

Star won two state seats, Tambunan, through its president Dr Jeffery Kitingan, and Bingkor through Robert Tawik. Sabah BN won 29 state seats and the addition of the two seats from Star brought the number to 31, enabling the coalition to form the state government.

At a press conference at the official residence of Sabah chief minister in Sri Gaya, Jeffery said he and Robert decided to work with BN for the sake of stability.

Sabah BN chairman Tan Sri Musa Aman said he had been given the mandate by the 31 assemblymen to lead the state government.

He dismissed reports that five BN assemblymen from component party Upko had joined Parti Warisan, stressing they were still with the coalition.

Sabah BN obtained 29 state seats, Parti Warisan (21), DAP (six) and PKR (two). – Bernama