New Kedah Exco members to be sworn in today

The swearing in of new State Executive Council (Exco) members under the administration of Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah is scheduled to take place this morning.

The appointment of the new Exco is in accordance with Article 37(2)(b) of the Kedah State Constitution following the appointment of Ahmad Bashah as the new Menteri Besar on Feb 4, replacing Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Mahathir.

The swearing-in ceremony and conferment of the new appointments will be held in front of Kedah Regency Council chairman, Tan Sri Tunku Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah at the audience hall in Istana Anak Bukit here, at 9 am.

Mukhriz resigned as menteri besar on Feb 3, after losing the support of the majority in the state assembly, following the crisis which ensued on Jan 20, when a majority of Kedah UMNO assemblymen and members of parliament, as well as certain senior UMNO leaders voiced out their loss of confidence in his leadership.

According to sources close to the state government, there may not be much changes to the Kedah state executive council line up, apart from some portfolio switches.

Previously under Mukhriz's leadership, there were nine Exco members, namely, Datuk Dr Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail as Industry and Investment, Domestic Trade, Consumerism and Cooperatives Committee chairman; Datuk Suraya Yaacob (Women Development, Social Welfare, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, Entrepreneur Development Committee chairman), Datuk Tajul Urus Mat Zain (Education, Transport and Works Committee chairman).

READ: New Kedah's exco line-up to swear in on Monday

READ: Ahmad Bashah to explain changes in Kedah UMNO to grassroots

Datuk Badrul Hisham Hashim (Local Government, Water Supply, Water and Energy Resources, Housing and Human Development Committee chairman), Datuk Mohd Rawi Abd Hamid (Religious, Indian and Siamese Community Affairs, Human Resources, Tourism Committee chairman), Datuk Mohd Tajudin Abdullah (Information, Rural Development Committee chairman).

Datuk Aminuddin Omar (Youth and Sports, Arts, Culture and Heritage, Non-Governmental Bodies Committee chairman), Datuk Noor Sabrina Mohd Noor (Science, Innovation and Information Technology, Communications and Advanced Technology Committee chairman) dan Datuk Dr Leong Yong Kong (Environment, Chinese Community Affairs, Health and Solidarity Committee chairman).