FOUR BERSATU ASSEMBLYMEN SWORN IN AS PERLIS EXCO MEMBERS

ARAU, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- Four Bersatu assemblymen were sworn in as members of the Perlis State Executive Council (Exco) at Istana Arau here today.

Izizam Ibrahim of Titi Tinggi, Datin Marzita Mansor (Sena), Megat Hashirat Hassan (Pauh) and Wan Zikri Afthar Ishak (Tambun Tulang) took their oaths before the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, in a ceremony that began at 11.20 am.

The Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, and the Second Heir to the Perlis throne, Syed Sirajuddin Areeb Putra Al-Haj Jamalullail, were in attendance.

bootstrap slideshow

Also present were Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah, State Assembly Speaker Rus'sele Eizan, State Secretary Datuk Rahimi Ismail and five PAS assemblymen, including former Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli, along with an assemblyman from Pakatan Harapan (PH).

Last Dec 28, Abu Bakar, who is also the Kuala Perlis assemblyman, was sworn in as Menteri Besar following Mohd Shukri’s resignation due to health reasons.

The Perlis State Secretary’s Office, in a Facebook post, congratulated the newly appointed Exco members, with Datuk Rahimi Ismail and the entire state administration expressing their best wishes.

The post detailed the portfolios held by Abu Bakar, which include Administration and Finance, Investment and Economy, Land and Natural Resources, Tourism and Culture, Infrastructure and Rural Development, as well as Security and Border Relations.

Izizam will be in charge of Religious Affairs, Housing and Local Government, Consumer Affairs, Human Resources and Human Capital, while Datin Marzita Mansor heads the Committee on Women, Family and Community Development, Education, Unity, Welfare and Poverty.

Megat Hashirat Hassan will chair the State Committee on Agriculture, Health, Entrepreneurship, Cooperatives and Environment, while Wan Zikri Afthar Ishak heads the Committee on Youth and Sports, Communications and Digital, Transport, and Science, Technology and Innovation.

At a press conference last Dec 30, Abu Bakar said the appointment of the new Exco members could proceed with a minimum of four members following PAS’s decision not to join the state administration under his leadership.

He said the minimum requirement for forming the state Exco is four members, or one-third of the total number of state assemblymen.

Speaking to reporters after the swearing-in ceremony, Abu Bakar expressed hope that the four new Exco members would work closely with him to strengthen the state administration.

He said he was confident they were ready to serve under any circumstances and deliver their best to the people.

“This is a challenge we must continue to face, to demonstrate that Perlis can stand on par with other states. With the involvement of these four Exco members, Insya-Allah, their assigned portfolios can be translated into effective action,” he said.

Abu Bakar also expressed confidence that all four Exco members are capable of shouldering their responsibilities, noting that several of the portfolios align with their respective experience and duties.

-- BERNAMA