Three new faces among Melaka exco line-up

MELAKA: Three new faces are among the 10 assemblymen who were sworn in as Melaka executive council members before Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Dr Mohd Ali Rustam here on Wednesday (April 5).

Among the new faces was DAP’s Kesidang assemblyman Allex Seah Soo Chin who has been made chairman of the entrepreneur, cooperative development and consumer affairs committee.

The other two newcomers in the line-up are Asahan assemblyman Fairul Nizam Roslan and Ayer Limau assemblyman Datuk Hameed Mytheen Kunju.

Fairul Nizam will be in charge of science, technology, innovation and digital communications while Hameed Mythen will be in charge of the works, public infrastructure, utility and transportation portfolio.

Paya Rumput assemblyman Datuk Rais Yasin has been elevated as a senior exco member under the administration of newly-minted Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.

Rais will be in charge of the portfolio of housing and local government, climate change and disaster management.

Ab Rauf, who is the Tanjung Bidara rep, will be in charge of the economic development, non-governmental agencies, industrial and TVET development committee.

Telok Mas assemblyman Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman is now in charge of the tourism, heritage and culture portfolio after Rembia assemblyman Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis was dropped from the line-up.

Also axed was Serkam assemblyman, Datuk Zaidi Attan who was previously in charge of housing and local government portfolio.

Among the old faces retained are Merlimau rep Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh who now chairs the rural development, agriculture and food security committee; Ayer Molek assemblyman Datuk Rahmad Mariman as the education, higher learning and religious affair exco, as well as Pengkalan Batu rep Datuk Kalsom Nordin, who will hold her previous portfolio as women, family, community development exco.

The others retained are MCA’s Machap Jaya assemblyman Ngwe Hee Sem who has been named as the chairman of health, human resources and unity committee chairman while MIC rep and Gadek assemblyman YP Shanmugam retains his portfolio as sport, youth and NGOs exco.

Ab Rauf said 10 more assemblymen will be made deputy exco members on Thursday (April 6).

He also said the unity state government reflects a new political era for the state.

Ab Rauf said the formation of the state government on Wednesday (April 5) demonstrates the political maturity in the country.

"I took the responsibility to form the state government through the guidance of Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi," he said.

Ab Rauf said his administration will also prioritise the power-sharing concept among all ethnicities in the state.

"My administration will be inclusive and take care of the needs of all communities as well as erasing any political difference among us," he added.