ALOR STAR: PKR Anak Bukit assemblyman Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah led the swearing in of state executive councillors (exco) before Sultan Kedah, Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah at Istana Anak Bukit here this morning.
Besides Amiruddin, the 10 exco-line are Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh (Pengkalan Kundor), Tan Kok Yew (Derga), Zamri Yusuf (Suka Menanti), Azman Nasrudin (Lunas), Mohd Asmirul Anuar Aris (Kubang Rotan), Ooi Tze Min (Bakar Arang), Dr Salmee Said (Kota Siputeh), R. Summugam (Bukit Selambau) and Halimaton Shaadiah Saad (Bukit Kayu Hitam).
Present were Sultanah of Kedah, Sultanah Maliha Tengku Ariff, Raja Muda Kedah Tengku Sarafuddin Badlishah Sultan Sallehuddin and Raja Puan Muda Kedah, Che Puan Muda Zaheeda Mohamad Ariff and state royal dignitaries.
Also present was Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.
Amiruddin who is also the Kubang Pasu member of parliament, will hold the state finance, government-linked companies, industry, investment and religion portfolio while Dr Ismail will take the information, health and rural development portfolio.
Tan will hold the Tourism, Local Government and Housing portfolio, Zamri (Science, Innovation and Information Technology, Public Work, Water Supply, Water Resources and Energy) while Azman (Agriculture and Agro-Base hold the Transports and Human Development) and Mohd Asmirul (Youth and Sports, Culture, Arts and Heritage, Entrepreneur Development, and Non-Governmental Organisation).
Meanwhile, Ooi will hold the Chinese and Siamese Community Affairs, Human Resources and Environment, Dr Salmee (Education, Communication and High Technology, and Domestic Trade), Summugam (Indian Community, Unity and Consumer Affair and Cooperative) and Halimaton Shaadiah Saad (Women Development, Welfare and Poverty Eradication).
The swearing in ceremony were witnessed by Kedah High Court Judge Datuk Hashim Hamzah and Kedah Sharie chief judge Datuk Syeikh Abdul Rahman Abdullah.
Mukhriz will be holding the State Economic Planning, State Planning, Land Matters, Natural Resources and Revenue and State Action Council.
The Kedah exco line-up consisted of four from PKR, three from Parti Amanah Negara (PAN), two from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) and one from DAP.
Mukhriz, who is the state Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman led the pact involving PKR, PPBM, DAP and PAN that contested using PKR logo in the 14th General Election (GE14).
PH was given the mandate to form a new state government after winning 18 of the total 36 state seats.
As opposition, Pas held 15 state seats while Barisan Nasional has three seats.
Following PKR's success, Mukhriz, who also is also Jerlun member of Parliament, was appointed as the 13th Kedah Menteri Besar.
This was the second time Mukhriz was sworn in as Menteri Besar Kedah. The first was after BN wrested the state from the Pas-led state government during the 13th General Election in 2013.
