Sultan Sharafuddin presenting letter of appointment to Amiruddin Shari
THE new Selangor executive council (exco) line-up is made up of new and experienced elected representatives who come from various professional backgrounds and political parties.
The exco members in the Pakatan Harapan-led state government are from PKR, DAP, Amanah and Pribumi.
The team comprises three former exco members – Datuk Teng Chang Khim (DAP-Bandar Baru Klang), Amiruddin Shari (PKR-Sungai Tua) and V. Ganabatirau (DAP-Kota Kemuning).
The new faces are Haniza Mohamed Talha (PKR-Lembah Jaya), Ng Sze Han (DAP-Kinrara), Dr Shaharuddin Badaruddin (PKR-Seri Setia), Hee Loy Sian (PKR-Kajang), Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (Amanah-Seri Serdang), Izham Hashim (Amanah-Pandan Indah) and Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari (Pribumi-Selat Kelang).
Dr Siti Mariah and Hee are also former MPs for Kota Raja and Petaling Jaya Selatan (now renamed Petaling Jaya) respectively.
They were sworn in before Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah on Monday.
Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Azmin Ali is expected to announce the portfolios of the exco members following discussions at the first exco meeting today.
Ganabatirau said the exco team was expected to be stronger this term as the Federal Government was also under Pakatan Harapan.
“I am happy to be appointed for the second time and hope to serve the state better as both the state and federal governments are under Pakatan Harapan,” he said.
Two-term assemblyman Haniza, who was the deputy state assembly speaker prior to GE14, said she was looking forward to serving in the new capacity.
She described the exco team, made up of three senior members and seven fresh faces, as a formidable one.
“We need to move forward at a rapid pace without the red tape and politicking.
“I believe the people of Selangor will be the biggest benefactors of this situation where we do not have to be at loggerheads with the Federal Government anymore,” said Haniza, who is an architectural graduate.
Izham, who is state Amanah chairman, believed his 10-year experience serving as a councillor in Shah Alam City Council and Subang Jaya Municipal Council would help him take on the new role.
He added that he also worked with state exco members and assemblymen in auditing performances when he was with PAS.
He said the portfolio given to the exco members would depend on the assemblyman’s background.
“As an engineer, I feel that housing and infrastructure portfolio will suit me but I will leave it to the state leadership to decide,” he said.
Happy to be appointed for the second term, Amiruddin expects the challenge to be tougher this time.
“We have to work hard to deliver the goods after the people gave us a stronger mandate by electing Pakatan to head the Federal Government.
“I hope I will be given the sports portfolio so that I can continue with the projects I started,” he added.
Second-term Kinrara assemblyman Ng Sze Han was surprised with his appointment and welcomes the responsibility to be entrusted to him by Azmin.
“I will leave it to the Mentri Besar to decide which portfolio suits us best.
“He knows our background and it will be based on that,” he said, adding that the exco role was a new challenge for him because at the same time, he would be servicing a larger constituency, which was now almost double in size after the redelineation exercise.
Hee, who is a new assemblyman and two-term MP, said he would accept whatever portfolio given to him.
He said the role of assemblyman and exco posed different challenges, but looked forward to his new role.
As an assemblyman, he would take on two main issues in Kajang, the flood problem and traffic congestion.
On her Facebook page yesterday, former Selangor Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Elizabeth Wong said it was a privilege to have served the state government and the people of Selangor for 10 years (2008-2018).
The former Bukit Lanjan assemblyman said she was offered to extend her term by Azmin but upon reflection, “I thought it best that after 10 years, there would be new blood and fresh ideas.
“Opportunities must be available for others to come in and make a difference.
“There are also new horizons to explore. I will continue to serve the state, the country and our fellow citizens,” she wrote.
