New council line-up to retain old faces

By admin-s Last updated Sep 25, 2014

Sources said either Saari Sungib or Hasnul Baharuddin, the two Pas assemblymen who had signed a statutory declaration to support the nomination of PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to replace Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as menteri besar, would be in the line-up.

(NST) – THE new Selangor executive council (exco) line-up to be announced today is expected to retain the previous administration’s composition with DAP and PKR having three representatives and Pas with four.

“The line-up will be made up of three representatives from PKR and DAP, and four from Pas, with one of them being either Saari Sungib or Hasnul Baharuddin,” said a source.

Although Pas central committee member Khalid Samad yesterday said the party would not nominate both, PKR may insist on rewarding one of them for their loyalty to the Pakatan coalition.

Saari seems to be the front-runner as he had always maintained a cordial relationship with newly-minted menteri besar Azmin Ali, who is also PKR deputy president.

Judging from DAP’s obvious displeasure with the four former Pas Exco members, Selangor Pas commissioner Iskandar Abdul Samad, deputy commissioner I, Sallehen Mukhyi, Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi and Dr Halimah Ali for “sticking by” Khalid Ibrahim, their chances of being reappointed seem slim.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had, in a statement, accused the four of betraying Pakatan — an opinion shared by other DAP leaders, after they failed to resign when Khalid sacked their six colleagues from PKR and DAP.

Guan Eng yesterday defended his statement, saying it was not his personal view but the party’s collective opinion.

Iskandar, when met at the state secretariat building on Tuesday when Azmin was sworn in, indicated that he did not expect to return as an exco.

“This is my last day,” said Iskandar, who was one of the top contenders for the menteri besar post before the palace chose Azmin.

Pas, however, has little to worry as it has a pool of candidates to step into the shoes left by the four should they be left out from the line-up. Among them are former Selangor Pas commissioner and Meru assemblyman Dr Abdul Rani Osman, who is a medical doctor; state Pas secretary and Paya Jaras assemblyman Mohd Khairuddin Othman and Bangi assemblyman Mohd Shafie Ngah, who are both lawyers.

The other candidate is Seri Serdang assemblyman Noor Hanim Ismail who can fill the female to male exco ratio.

Meanwhile Iskandar said Pas would not let go of its four state Exco posts despite criticisms from PKR and DAP.

“Pas will defend our right to hold the exact number of portfolio as before,” he yesterday, adding the statement by PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin for the number of Pas excos to be reduced was uncalled for.

On Zuraida’s call for Pas president Datuk Seri Abdullah Hadi Awang to apologise to PKR’s president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, he said the issue should be addressed by Pas central leadership.

PKR is expected to feature two new faces in the exco line-up, with Dr Daroyah Alwi, a known loyalist of Azmin’s, expected to be reappointed.

Another Azmin loyalist who could make the cut is Seri Muda assemblyman Shuhaimi Shafie.

Rodziah Ismail will not likely be reappointed as she is perceived to have supported Khalid.

Sources said while Roziah had signed the statutory declaration to support Dr Wan Azizah, this could have been perceived to be an “afterthought” after being pressured by the PKR leadership.

Two-term exco member Elizabeth Wong may also be dropped, and her spot to be taken over by either Rawang assemblyman Gan Pei Nei or Dr Xavier Jayakumar.

DAP may opt to reappoint its three executive councillors, Datuk Teng Chang Khim, V. Ganabatirau and Ean Yong Hian Wah, but if PKR chooses to reinstate Xavier, Ganabatirau may be dropped as it has been a convention to only have one Indian executive councillor member.

This configuration may change if the Pakatan leadership decides to reassign Speaker Hannah Yeoh and Deputy Speaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad as executive councillors.

Dr Wan Azizah is also not expected to be in the list.

“It is inappropriate for the party president to work as an exco under her deputy,” said a source.

Meanwhile, Azmin’s first day in the office yesterday was a low-key affair, as he arrived at the state secretariat building at 7.45am with a small entourage of five, including his bodyguards, and was greeted by a handful of senior officials.

Azmin was all smiles as he greeted the horde of reporters and photographers at the lobby before heading straight to his office on the 21st floor for a brief meeting with the state government’s senior staff.

Azmin said the new Selangor executive council line-up would be finalised by today.

He said he would have an audience with the sultan of Selangor to discuss the new line up.

Barring any unforeseen circumstance, the executive councillor members would be sworn in tomorrow afternoon.