Former Information Minister Khalil Yaakob received his letter of appointment as the sixth governor of Melaka from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail at the Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur today.

Khalil, 67, whose appointment is for a four-year term, succeeds Tun Syed Ahmad Shahabudin, Bernama reported.

He is scheduled to take his oath of office at a swearing in ceremony to be held at Dewan Seri Negeri in Ayer Keroh on Friday.

Khalil's appointment as governor was also mired in controversy with Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang requesting that it be deferred until he (Khalil) is cleared of corruption allegations lodged against him in two police reports.

Has he been cleared?

This, Lim asserted, has to be done before he becomes the governor, as the new post entitles him to immunity from prosecution.

"Has he been cleared by the ACA for appointment as the Malacca governor?" Lim asked.

The opposition leader also questioned if the government had planned to suspend the ACA reports and investigations into the allegations that Khalil had flouted logging regulations while he was Pahang menteri besar.

There was no response, however, to the opposition leader's questions.

Khalil, born on Dec 29 1937 in Kuantan, received his secondary education at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) and obtained his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Malaya.

His involvement in politics began when he joined Umno in 1962. He has served as Deputy Education Minister (1982-1984), Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (1984-1986) and Information Minister (1999-2004). He was Pahang Menteri Besar for 13 years from 1986 to 1999.

Khalil and his wife, Zurina Kassim, have three children and two grandchildren.