KUANTAN: Former Lanchang assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin is now the speaker of the Pahang state assembly.
The motion to appoint Mohd Sharkar was proposed by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and seconded by state agriculture, agro-based industry, biotechnology and education committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Soffi Abd Razak.
There was no objection from members of the house at the first session meeting of the 15th Pahang state assembly.
He replaces Datuk Seri Ishak Muhamad who has been speaker since 2013.
The Temerloh-born Mohd Sharkar, 60, was the Barisan Nasional Lanchang assemblyman for five terms from 1999, before losing the seat in the recent 15th General Election (GE15).
Mohd Sharkar was formerly a state executive councillor and chaired the tourism, culture, environment, plantation and commodity committee, as well as the information, science, technology and innovation committee.
Meanwhile, Bilut assemblyman Lee Chin Chen from Pakatan Harapan has been elected deputy speaker.
Lee, who was Opposition leader in the last state assembly, became an assemblyman in 2013 after winning the Ketari seat in GE13 before switching to the Bilut state seat in 2018.
Yesterday also saw all 42 state assembly members take their oath of office, beginning with Wan Rosdy, followed by the 10 state executive councillors and other assemblymen, including Opposition leader and Cheka assemblyman Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.
The Pahang government was formed through a collaboration between Barisan and Pakatan after no party obtained a simple majority of 22 seats to form the state government after the election.
In GE15, Barisan and Perikatan Nasional won 17 seats each, while Pakatan took eight seats.
Through the collaboration, Wan Rosdy was sworn in as Mentri Besar on Nov 28.
Wan Rosdy’s exco line-up comprises eight from Barisan and two from Pakatan. — Bernama
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