Newly minted Malacca Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali has appointed his lineup of executive councillors (exco), among them are PKR and former DAP representatives who previously defected from Pakatan Harapan.

Despite Malacca Umno's previous decision to not cooperate with Bersatu, the former Harapan component party two assemblypersons are surprisingly included in the lineup.

All but one exco position - for the Unity, Public Engagement, Labour and Consumer Affairs portfolio - have been filled.

The lineup is as follows:

Economic planning; Finance; Land, Beach and River Development; Water Management; Religious Affairs; Industry; Investment; Technology; Communications; Multimedia; and Government-Linked Agencies

Chief Minister Sulaiman Mohd Ali (Umno-Lendu)

Housing, Local Government and Environment exco

Abdul Ghafar Atan (Umno-Asahan)

District and Rural Development; Flood Management exco

Idris Haron (Umno-Sungai Udang)

NGO, Youth and Sports exco

Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen (Bersatu-Paya Rumput)

Tourism, Heritage and Culture exco

Muhamad Jailani Khamis (PKR-Rembia)

Women’s Affairs, Family Development and Welfare exco

Latipah Omar (Umno-Taboh Naning)

Public Works, Transport, Public Facilities and Infrastructure exco

Roslan Ahmad (Umno-Merlimau)

Agriculture, Livestock, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives exco

Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Independent-Pengkalan Batu)

Health and Anti-Drugs exco

Rahmad Mariman (Umno-Ayer Molek)

Chief Minister’s Office (Education, Higher Education, Technical and Vocational, Science and Innovation)

Noor Effandi Ahmad (Bersatu-Telok Mas) 


One month to fill vacancy

Norhizam was sacked from DAP earlier this week.

In a broadcasted press conference, Sulaiman (above) said the state’s new exco members will be sworn in at 2:30pm today.

The new MB said he expected to take a month to decide who will fill the vacant exco position.

“We are still looking for an assemblyperson to fill the spot. We will take about a month to do so and this has been agreed to by the Malacca Governor (Mohd Khalil Yaacob),” he said.

Sulaiman spoke to the media after meeting the governor.

As a result of Bersatu’s exit from Pakatan Harapan plus defections from Jailani and Norhizam, PN now rules Malacca with 17 seats in the 28-seat legislative assembly.

Harapan previously held the state with 15 seats.