GEORGE TOWN, May 9th- State PKR vice-chairman Abdul Malik Kassim (photo) was dealt a massive blow to his political ambition when Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng appointed newly elected Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Mohd Rashid Hasnon as the Deputy Chief Minister I (DCM1).
Rashid replaces previous DCM1 and state PKR chief Mansor Othman, who is now the Nibong Tebal parliamentarian.
As DCM1, Rashid will take charge of industrial development, international trade, cooperatives and society relationship portfolios.
Malik has been waiting in the wings for the coveted DCM1 portfolio since Pakatan Rakyat took over the state government in the 2008 general election.
Anwar Ibrahim picked the then Penanti assemblyman Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin as the DCM1 after the 2008 GE.
When Fairus resigned as DCM1 and Penanti assemblyman in early 2009, Anwar opted for Mansor ahead of Batu Maung representative Malik, who was already an executive councillor in Lim’s state administration.
Mansor won the Penanti by-election and replaced Fairus as DCM1.
When Mansor opted to contest the Nibong Tebal federal seat in the recent general election, all predictions were Malik would get the post after the election.
But Rashid’s appointment today is surely a blow to Malik, who however retains his exco post in charge of Islamic religious and, domestic trade and consumer affairs.
Ramasamy remains DCMll
P Ramasamy (photo), who retained his Prai state seat comfortably, had been appointed as the DCMll for a second term.
He retains his previous economic planning, education and human resources, science, technology and innovation portfolios.
As before, the 11-man executive council is dominated by eight assemblymen from the DAP with PKR’s three. There is no room for PAS sole assemblyman Mohd Salleh Man of Permatang Pasir.
Chief Minister Lim, the Air Putih assemblyman, retains his portfolios of land, land development, entrepreneur development, information and heritage.
Three previous executive councillors Air Itam assemblyman Wong Hon Wai, Berapit assemblywoman Lydia Ong (both DAP) and Bukit Tambun assemblyman Law Choo Kiang of PKR were dropped.
They made way for Datuk Keramat assemblyman Jagdeep Singh Deo, Padang Lalang assemblywoman Chong Eng and PKR’s Dr Afif Bahardin, who won the Seberang Jaya state seat.
Jadgeep, son of Karpal Singh, takes charge of the town and countryside planning and housing portfolios. Chong Eng takes charge of youth and sports, women, family and community development affairs. Afif takes charge agriculture and agro-based industries, health, rural development and flood mitigation portfolios.
DAP state chairman and Padang Kota assemblyman Chow Kon Yeow retains his local government and traffic management portfolios, while Bagan Jermal representative Lim Hock Seng keeps his public works, utilities and transport portfolios.
Batu Lanchang assemblyman Danny Law Heng Kiang retains tourism development, culture, arts and heritage while Sungai Puyu rep Phee Boon Poh retaings welfare, caring society and environment issues.
The new state executive councillors were sworn in ceremony at the Dewan Sri Penang this morning.
