Kerk elected deputy speaker of Malacca

Ayer Keroh state assemblyperson Kerk Chee Yee has been elected as the Malacca state legislative assembly deputy speaker.

Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh proposed Kerk for the post and the proposal was seconded by Housing, Local Government, Irrigation, Climate Change and Disaster Management senior exco Rais Yasin.

Twenty-four assemblypersons supported Kerk’s nomination, two abstained and two were absent during the vote at the state assembly sitting today.

When tabling the proposal, Ab Rauf said Kerk possessed wide experience in administration and politics.

“The Malacca-born Kerk’s father (the late) Kerk Kim Hock was the Durian Daun assemblyperson from 1986 to 1990.

“Kerk (Chee Yee) has a degree in Trade and Accountancy from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and has been active in politics since 2017,” he said.

Ab Rauf said Kerk had also served as political secretary to former DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and was the executive councillor in charge of communications, multimedia, non-governmental organisations, youth and sports from 2018 to 2020.

Ab Rauf’s proposal to nominate Malacca Umno secretary Mustafa Musa as a senator was also approved by the state assembly with the same votes.

The appointment of Mustafa, who is also Alor Gajah Umno division deputy chief, is for a three-year term beginning today.

Kerk told reporters later that he wanted to bring reforms to the state assembly and would discuss this matter with the relevant parties.

“I have many ideas in the context of reforming this legislative body,” he said without elaborating.

On his appointment, he said it was another step taken by BN and Pakatan Harapan (Harapan) which showed the unity of the Malacca state government.

“In the past few months following the formation of the unity government in Malacca, state excos (executive councillors) and deputy excos were appointed from among Harapan assemblyperson’s,” he said.

- Bernama

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