Fewer Pas exco seats hint of trouble for MB

(NST) – Pas’ announcement yesterday that it has not agreed with the reduction of its seats in the state executive council does not bode well for the brand new administration of Menteri Besar Azmin Ali.

Selangor Pas secretary Mohd Khairuddin Othman said despite agreeing with the appointments, Pas had never agreed for its exco members to be reduced from four to three.

Khairuddin said the Pas’ central leadership had also never agreed to the reduction.

“We also think that the discontinuation of the services of (Pas former exco members) Dr Halimah Ali and Sallehen Mukhyi, who have an excellent track record, was unjustified.

“I feel that this is not a good beginning. However, Pas wants the Pakatan government in Selangor to be stable in order for us to continue fulfilling the people’s agenda.

“Therefore, we will continue to persevere for the sake of the state,” he said.

Yesterday morning, Azmin officially announced that Pas now had only three members in the state executive council line-up.

The Pas’ vacated seat was taken over by PKR, which now has four seats in the 10-member council while DAP retained its three previous seats.

Former Pas exco members in the administration of Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, state party commissioner Iskandar Abdul Samad and Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, were among the three appointed from the party. Templer assemblyman Zaidy Abdul Talib is the new face from Pas.

Speaking to reporters after the official swearing-in ceremony for the excos at the Alam Shah palace yesterday, Ahmad Yunus said Pas had to accept the reduction of exco seats.

“We have no other choice but to accept the decision as it is. There could be a hidden blessing to this and Pas exco members will do their best in their allocated portfolios.”

Yunus said the exco members had yet to be notified about the portfolios they would manage.

He hinted that a Pas assemblyman with a legal background may be appointed as the new deputy speaker for the state assembly.

“A Selangor Pas assemblyman with legal background would either be Khairuddin Othman (Paya Jaras) or Mohd Shafie Ngah (Bangi). But the exco members still need to go through a meeting to decide on the matter in the near future,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zaidy expressed regret over the reduction of Pas exco seats.

“I was a bit taken aback when it was announced. I did not expect this to happen at all but we must accept the reality that the decision had been made and it can’t be changed.

“At first, I expected all the former excos to be retained. That said, we must accept the decision and I accept my appointment with an open heart.”

All three former DAP exco members from the past administration were reappointed. They are Datuk Teng Chang Khim, Ean Yong Hian Wah and V. Ganabatirau.

PKR’s former exco members, Elizabeth Wong and Dr Daroyah Alwi, were also reappointed.

The party’s two new exco members are former state assembly deputy speaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Batu Caves assemblyman Amirudin Shari.

Teng, when met at the palace, said he could not wait to get back to his office at the State Secretariat building to start work.

“This time, we pledge to do our best to make sure that we can regain the people’s trust and run the state smoothly.”