Forty-two out of 45 Kelantan state assemblypersons took their oath of office in Kota Baru today before the commencement of the first term of the 13th state legislative assembly.

Kelantan Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakob led the assemblypersons in taking their oath before the newly-appointed speaker Abdullah Ya’kub.

The three absent assemblymen were Mustapa Mohamed (Ayer Lanas), Husam Musa (Salor) and Abdullah Che Mat Nawi (Wakaf Baharu).

Bernama was made to understand that Mustapa, who is international trade and industry minister, as well as Member of Parliament for Jeli, was currently abroad, while the reasons for the absence of Husam and Abdullah could not be ascertained.

Earlier, former Ayer Lanas assemblyperson Abdullah Ya’kub took his oath of office as the speaker in place of Nassuruddin Daud, who is now Meranti assemblyperson.

Mengkebang assemblyperson Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman, who is also state PAS Youth chief, was appointed as the new deputy speaker in place of Mohamad Zaki Ibrahim (Kelaboran).

The state legislative assembly sitting is scheduled to be officially open by the sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Muhammad V on Sunday.

PAS retained power in Kelantan after winning 32 out of 45 state seats in the 13th general election, while Barisan Nasional (BN) increased their number of state seats to 12 from seven previously.

The state seats won by BN are Paloh, Nenggiri, Galas, Dabong, Kok Lanas, Selising, Semerak, Pengkalan Kubor, Bukit Bunga, Gual Ipoh, Ayer Lanas and Kuala Balah.

The remaining seat of Guchil was won by PKR.

60 Sabah reps take oath

Meanwhile, 60 Sabah assemblypersons, including 12 from the opposition parties of DAP, PKR and Parti Reformasi Sabah (Star) took their oath of office before Sabah state assembly speaker Salleh Said in Kota Kinabalu today.

The oath-taking ceremony began at 10am with Chief Minister Musa Aman leading the way, followed by his three deputies, Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Yahya Hussin and Raymond Tan Shu Kiah.

They were then followed by Sabah ministers and assistant ministers, as well as the rest of the state assemblypersons.

Among the opposition assemblymen were Lajim Ukin (PKR-Klias), Wilfred Bumburing (PKR-Tamparulli), Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (Star-Bingkor) and Hiew King Cheu (DAP-Luyang).

Barisan Nasional (BN) retained power in Sabah with two-thirds majority after winning 48 out of 60 state seats in the 13th general election on May 5.

Speaking to reporters later, Musa, who is also Sungai Sibuga assemblyperson, urged all assemblypersons, especially from BN, to discharge the duties entrusted to them by the people to the best of their ability.

“I would also like to ask all assemblypersons to be polite, courteous and adhere to all regulations when debating an issue in the noble hall of the state assembly,” he said.

The first term of the 13th Sabah state legislative assembly sitting is scheduled to be officially open by Yang Dipertua Negeri Juhar Mahiruddin on Monday.

- Bernama