ISKANDAR PUTERI: Former deputy education minister Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi has been appointed as Johor's new State Assembly Speaker.
Puad, who is the Rengit assemblyman, was nominated for the post by Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi (BN - Machap) and the nomination was supported by Datuk Zahari Sarip (BN - Buloh Kasap).
He was the sole person nominated for the post.
Puad, who was also the former Batu Pahat member of Parliament, succeeded Suhaizan Kayat from Parti Amanah Negara.
The appointment was made during the first meeting of the first session of the 15th State Assembly at the Sultan Ismail Building here.
In his speech, Puad thanked Onn Hafiz for his trust in appointing him as the speaker and expressed his determination to carry out his responsibility with full dedication.
"I would also like to remind assembly members of the advice by the Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar in his address at the opening of the Fourth Session of the 14th State Assembly who wants all members to discuss and make decisions for the interest of Johor and its people.
"Sultan Ibrahim also said that members should not mar this assembly with bad behaviour, as this is an august house (dewan yang mulia), not a monkey cage (dewan sangkar monyet)," said Puad.
The meeting them proceeded with the swearing in of the assemblymen who won in the state election last month, led by Onn Hafiz.
Semarang assemblyman Datuk Samsolbari Jamali was then appointed as the Deputy Speaker.
Samsolbari, a former state agriculture, agro-based industry and rural development committee chairman, was nominated by Onn Hafiz and his nomination was supported by Zahari.