IPOH, Dec 11– Whether the five remaining Perak state executive councillors to be appointed will feature the same faces from the previous line-up will depend on suitability and the consent of the Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah, newly-appointed Menteri Besar Datuk Saarani Mohamad said.
Saarani, who was sworn in as menteri besar yesterday, said he will propose the five names to Sultan Nazrin as soon as possible.
“I can’t announce the proposed names now. We will fill up all the vacant positions but the appointments would still need the consent of His Highness the Sultan of Perak,” he said after clocking in for his first day at work at the Perak Darul Ridzuan building here today.
Yesterday, five assemblymen were sworn in as state executive councillors.
Four of them were exco members from the previous administration, namely Datuk Zolkafly Harun (BN-Lintang); Datuk Shahrul Zaman Yahya (BN-Rungkup); Datuk Dr Wan Norashikin Wan Noordin (BN-Kampung Gajah) and Khairul Shahril Mohamed (BN-Bota).
Another assemblyman was Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharudin (Bersatu-Sungai Manik).
The previous Perak Exco line-up was dissolved following the resignation of Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu as Menteri Besar on Dec 5 after losing a vote of confidence during the state legislative assembly sitting.
He garnered 10 votes. Forty-eight assemblymen voted against him and one abstained.
The motion was brought by Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblyman for Pengkalan Baru Datuk Abd Manap Hashim.
In a related matter, Saarani he would hold the first state exco meeting next Monday, in which he would be giving a briefing on the Perak Budget 2021 at the Casuarina Convention Centre, Meru here to all assemblymen so that it can be tabled on Wednesday.
Earlier, Saarani, 59, upon arriving at the state secretariat building, was received by Perak state secretary Datuk Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim, State Legal Advisor Azmir Shah Zainal Abidin, State Financial Officer Datuk Zulazlan Abu Hassan, senior officers and other members of the state administration.
