SEREMBAN: Deputy exco positions may be created in the new Negri Sembilan government, says Mentri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim.
He said the positions will only be created for certain portfolios.
“Since we (Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional) won handsomely in the election, I am thinking of creating deputy exco positions for certain important portfolios.
“This will be decided in the next few days,” he said when met after clocking in as Mentri Besar at Wisma Negri.
The state government has not previously had deputy exco positions.
Ismail said the number of exco positions will be retained at 10.
“I will announce the exco members on Friday at the earliest or Monday at the latest.
“I need to get the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, before doing so,” he said.
When asked if the names of certain assemblymen had been rejected for the exco position, Ismail said he had no knowledge of that.
Asked if the state Umno chief, Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias, who was a senior exco in the previous administration, will be appointed to the exco, Ismail said the decision has not been finalised.
“The exco positions will be divided according to the districts. We can’t have a few excos coming from the same district,” he said.
Ismail said he had yet to decide if the position of senior exco would be retained.
In the Aug 1 state election, the Barisan and Perikatan pact won 25 of the 36 seats in the state assembly.
Pakatan Harapan won the remaining 11.
In the 2023 state election, Barisan and Pakatan had contested under the unity government banner and won 31 of the 36 seats contested. Perikatan won five.
