KUANTAN: Former five-term Lanchang assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin, has been appointed as the new Pahang state legislative assembly Speaker.
The half-day session of the 15th Pahang state legislative assembly sitting today is the first involving the new Pahang unity government comprising Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail (BN- Jelai) nominated Sharkar and the nomination was seconded by Datuk Seri Mohd Soffi Abdul Razak (BN-Benta).
Sharkar replaces Datuk Ishak Muhammad who served as Speaker since 2013.
Wan Rosdy proposed to appoint Pakatan Harapan's Bilut assemblyman Lee Chin Chen as deputy speaker and was also seconded by Soffi.
The 17 Perikatan Nasional opposition members did not object to the appointment and did not nominate any names for the Speaker or deputy position.
Later, all the 42 Pahang assemblymen, led by Wan Rosdy, took the oath of office.
The opposition was led by first term Cheka state assemblyman Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, who is also Pas deputy president.
The Pahang unity government has 25 elected representatives comprising 17 from BN and eight from PH while PN has 17.