ALOR SETAR: With the help of Umno, the impasse over the appointment of Kedah state assembly Speaker was finally resolved.Former Kuala Kedah MP Datuk Ahmad Kassim was elected as the Speaker.

Rumours were rife that Barisan Nasional assemblymen Datuk Dr Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail (Guar Chempedak), Datuk Norsabrina Mohd Noor (Bandar Baharu) and Datuk Suraya Yaacob (Sungai Tiang) tipped the votes in Pakatan’s favour when Kedah state secretary Iqbal Ahmad initiated a vote among the 36 state assemblymen to decide between two nominees – Ahmad Kassim from PKR who received 21 votes and Kedah PAS commissioner Dr Ahmad Fakhruddin Sheikh Fakhrurazi who received 15 votes.