Two more state executive council (exco) members, Phahrolrazi Zawawi and Dr Ismail Salleh, took their oath of office today before Kedah Council of Regency chairperson Tunku Annuar Sultan Badlishah at Istana Anak Bukit in Alor Setar.

The two PAS assemblypersons before this did not take the oath together with eight other exco members on Feb 28 as they had rejected their reappointment to the post, stating they could no longer tolerate the attitude of Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak of refusing to accept their views.

The list of exco members issued after the ceremony shows some portfolio changes, with Mohamed Taulan Mat Rasul now the state Religious, Education, Cooperatives, Rural Development and Povery-eradication Committee chairperson.

Amiruddin Hamzah is now state Industry and Investment, Housing, Works, Agriculture and Agro-Industry and Biotehnology Committee chairperson, while Phahrolrazi is in charge of Local Government, Water Supply and Energy.

Ismail will chair the Non-Governmental Organisations, Science and Innovation, Information Technology and Communications portfolio.

The portfolios of Dr Hamdan Mohamed Khalib, Siti Ashah Ghazali, S Manikumar, Lim Soo Nee, Abd Ghani Ahmad and Tan Joon Long @ Tan Chow Kang, who had earlier accepted their reappointments, remain.

Hamdan is state Health, Youth and Sports, and Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairperson, while Abd Ghani is in charge of Information, Human Capital Development and Entrepreneur Development.

Siti Ashah remains as state Women and Family Development and Social Welfare Committee chairperson and Manikar as Tourism, Indian and Siamese Community Affairs Committee chairperson.

Lim still holds the state Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Unity and Human Resource Management portfolio, and Tan the Environment, Chinese Community Affairs and Transport portfolio.

Azizan, when met by reporters later, said he hoped the reappointed two exco members and the rest could work together to take the state’s administration to a higher level.

“I am happy the two (Phahrolrazi and Ismail) are back with us. In facing the upcoming general election, we will close ranks... what had been negative are all positive now,” he said.

- Bernama