ALOR STAR: Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir is expected to have a fresh and young exco line-up after Pakatan Harapan (PH) was given the mandate to form a government in Kedah.
The Menteri Besar also has ‘senior’ choices to fill the line-up based on some of the elected representatives contesting under PKR logo having past experience in holding posts.
Besides Mukhriz, who is the state Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman, Kedah Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh and his deputy Datuk Ir Phahrolrazi Zawawi were executive councillors when Kedah was under the Pas-led state government after the 2008 general election.
Also with experience as state executive councilor is Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah, the former State Legislative Assembly opposition leader after Barisan Nasional (BN) wrested the state in the 13th general election.
However, it is learnt that Phahrolrazi and Amiruddin will not be joining the line-up especially the latter, who also won the Kubang Pasu parliamentary seat.
Mukhriz is expected to announce a 10-men line-up to fill the state executive council within this week.
Ismail when contacted said although the pact had reached a verbal consensus on executive councilor ratio among the four parties that formed the pact, they needed to consider the number of seats won by each party.
Based on the 14th General Election (GE14) result, PKR won eight seats, while the three parties contesting using PKR logo each won five seats (PPBM), three seats (PAN) and two seats (DAP).
“We have come to an agreement on who should fill the state executive council line-up but who will make it will only be known when Menteri Besar makes the announcement,” he said.
It is learnt that the four parties had agreed on a four, three, two and one formula for the 10 exco members for the state PH government.
According to the formula PPBM will have four members in the line-up, followed by three (PKR), two (PAN) and one (DAP).
It is also learnt that the chairman for the four parties will make up the first four names ln the list.
However, only Ismail and DAP state chairman Tan Kok Yew who is the Derga state assemblyman will make the cut since PKR chairman Dr Azman Ismail did not contest the state seat.
Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) Multimedia Technology and Communication senior lecturer Azahar Kassim said Mukhriz was expected to field young and fresh faces to work with him in developing the state.
He said among the potential line up was Kota Siputeh assemblyman Dr Salmee Said from PAN and Bukit Selambau assemblyman Dr R. Summugam.
“Not forgetting is Zamri Yusuf who defeated former MB Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah.
“Mukhriz also needs to have a representative from Langkawi, the constituency that kicks off the major change in the national political landcape,” he said.