Selangor has scrapped the deputy menteri besar post to reduce politicking, said Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo today.

He added that the decision received the consent of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

"No appointment of a deputy (MB) because we want to reduce politicking in the government... politicking could cause less attention to be given to work and could also create groupings," he was quoted as saying in a Bernama report.

Mohd Khir explained that the appointment of a deputy was up to the discretion of the menteri besar.

Prior to the dissolution of the state legislative assembly, the post was held by Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad, who was also not fielded to defend his Dusun Tua state seat in the general election.

Mohd Khir, who was sworn in this morning, said the 11 state executive councillors, two-thirds of whom are new faces, would be sworn in on April 1 at Istana Alam Shah in Klang.

Meeting PM

"I will meet the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) today or tomorrow to match the state portfolios with those at the federal level. I understand that there will be slight changes at the federal level and coordination is needed to avoid problems," he said.

The menteri besar said he would also raise in his meeting with Abdullah the possibility of expanding the state executive council following an increase in workload.

He said he had not decided on the number of additional members as his current priority would be to fill the existing vacancies.

"I hope none will lobby for the posts. Those who do will not get it... as easy as that. We shouldn't lobby for posts. We should focus on the work given to us," he said.