Bukit Antarabangsa state assemblyperson Mohamed Azmin Ali today took his oath of office as the new menteri besar of Selangor.

Mohamed Azmin, 50, who is also the MP for Gombak, was sworn in before the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, at the throne room of Istana Alam Shah, Klang at 10.45am.

The PKR deputy president replaces Abdul Khalid Ibrahim who had held the post for more than six years, from 2008.

Present at the swearing-in ceremony were Mohamed Azmin's wife Shamsidar Taharin, state secretary Mohammed Khusrin Munawi, state assembly speaker Hannah Yeoh and the four former state executive councillors from PAS, namely Iskandar Abdul Samad, Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, Sallehen Mukhyi and Dr Halimah Ali.

Other state assemblymen from PKR, PAS, DAP and Barisan Nasional (BN), however, did not receive invitations to the ceremony, which began at 10.30am.

The swearing-in was witnessed by Shah Alam High Court judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah.

Mohamed Azmin who wore a black baju Melayu with sampin and complete with a tengkolok (Malay traditional headgear) also took the 10-point pledge before Sultan Sharafuddin while holding the long spear  'Sembuana', with its head wrapped in yellow cloth.

The pledge included protecting and upholding the Rukun Negara; protecting and defending the sanctity and supremacy of Islam as the state's religion; protecting the sovereignty of the royal institution and defending it from being tarnished and threatened by any quarters; obeying all directives and decisions issued by the Selangor Sultan from time to time, as well as protecting the special position of the Malays and the legitimate rights of the other races as enshrined in the Federal Constitution and Selangor State

Constitution 1959.

Mohamed Azmin also pledged to carry out his duties with a high-level of integrity, full responsibility, trustworthiness, honesty and sincerity; to place the people first as long as it does not adversely affect the state's interests, stability, wellbeing and security; to ensure good relations with the federal government and other states in the federation; to protect the post held from being tarnished with actions that contravene the law and to ensure racial unity  by emphasising on the spirit of goodwill, compromise and cooperation.

The Akujanji declaration and holding of the long spear were introduced when Abdul Khalid took his oath of office as Selangor menteri besar for the second term on May 14, last year.

Mohamed Azmin also took his oath of appointment and loyalty as a member of the Selangor Royal Council at the ceremony presided by the sultan's private secretary, Mohamad Munir Bani.

Abdul Khalid's replacement took place after Pakatan Rakyat made what is called the "Kajang Move" which saw the incumbent assemblyperson, Lee Chin Cheh, vacating the state seat to enable PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim to contest it.

However, Anwar was not eligible to do so after the prosecution won the appeal in the sodomy case involving the opposition leader and his personal aide.

PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also Anwar's wife, contested the seat and won in the by-election.

On Aug 9, PKR sacked Abdul Khalid from the party and nominated Dr Wan Azizah for the post of Selangor menteri besar to replace him but this was not consented to by the palace.

After the palace confirmed yesterday that Mohamed Azmin would be the new menteri besar, Dr Wan Azizah in a statement said she accepted the decision with an open heart.

- Bernama

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