Pakatan rep feels a little weird being appointed as exco member

PEKAN: After spending close to a decade in the Opposition, Pakatan Harapan assemblyman Sim Chon Siang feels a little weird being appointed into the state executive council.

The Teruntum assemblyman said he was used to opposing Barisan Nasional so now it is a bit jarring that their relationship is akin to being siblings as Pakatan is now part of the Pahang government.

“Our main priority is the rakyat. It doesn’t matter how we opposed Barisan in the past.

“The main objective now is to work for the benefit of the people,” Sim said after being sworn in as a member of the state exco.

As Pahang is now governed jointly by Barisan and Pakatan, the executive council comprised a line-up of eight members from Barisan and two from Pakatan.

The other Pakatan assemblyman is Leong Yu Man, who said the unity government in Pahang had to focus on the people’s welfare to improve their lives and socioeconomic status.

“This is stated by the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim).

“We need to assist the people with their main problem right now, which is the economy,” said Leong.

The Triang assemblyman, in her third term, said she would have no problem working with Barisan as she believes this was what the people wanted.

The Barisan assemblymen are Datuk Seri Mohd Soffi Abd Razak (Benta), Datuk Seri Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad (Kerdau), Datuk Mohammad Fakhruddin Mohd Ariff (Bebar), Razali Kassim (Muadzam Shah), Datuk Seri Johari Harun (Pelangai), Datuk Mohamad Nizar Mohamad Najib (Peramu Jaya), Datuk Sabariah Saidan (Guai) and Fadzli Mohamad Kamal (Dong).

Mohamad Nizar, the son of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, said he would carry out his duty with integrity for the good of the state.

They were sworn in before the Regent of Pahang Tengku Mahkota Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Abu Bakar here yesterday.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the portfolios for the exco members would be assigned later.