Eight Kedah assemblypersons were sworn in in Alor Setar today as members of the state executive council.

They took their oath of office before the Kedah Council of Regency chaired by Tunku Annuar Sultan Badlishah at Istana Anak Bukit.

All the eight will be holding the exco post for the first time, with four of them being elected representatives (assemblymen) for the first time after winning the seats they contested in the 13th general election on May 5.

Guar Chempedak assemblyperson Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail is given the Industry and Investment, Domestic Trade, Consumer Affairs and Cooperatives portfolio, while his Sungai Tiang counterpart Suraya Yaacob, the Women’s Development, Community Welfare, Agriculture and Agro-based Industries and Entrepreneur Development portfolio.

Tanjung Dawai assemblyperson Tajul Urus Mat Zain will be in charge of Education, Transportation and Public Works, Kuala Nerang assemblyperson Badrul Hisham Hashim (Local Government, Water Supply, Water and Energy Resources, Housing and Human Capital Development, and Ayer Hangat assemblyperson Mohd Rawi Abd Hamid (Religion, Indian and Siamese Community Affairs, Human Resources and Tourism).

As state exco members, Belantek assemblyperson Mohd Tajudin Abdullah will oversee Information, Rural Development and Poverty Eradication, Jitra assemblyperson Aminuddin Omar (Youth and Sports, Arts, Culture and Heritage and Non-Governmental Organisations), and Bandar Baharu assemblyperson Nor Sabrina Mohd Noor (Science, Innovation and Information Technology, Communications and High Technology).

Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir holds the portfolio of State Economic Planning, State Planning, Land Matters, Natural Resources, State Action Council, Finance and State Government-linked Companies.

There are still two vacancies in the exco, one of which is for a representative from MCA.

Three other members of the Kedah Council of Regency present at the swearing-in ceremony were Tunku Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, Tunku Abdul Hamid Thani Sultan Badlishah and Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah.

Also present were Mukhriz and the other Kedah assemblypersons.

- Bernama