PKR to see changes, DAP expecting status quo in Azmin’s exco line-up

Azmin will be busy considering the proposed names from PKR, DAP and PAS for the exco positions under his administration. - The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, September 24, 2014.PKR might have new executive councillors in the Selangor government while DAP is likely to retain its three excos as Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali hunkered down today to put the finishing touches to his new administration.

Sources said PKR's central leadership has proposed four additional names for Azmin's consideration, besides the three excos who had served under the previous MB, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

The four new names proposed are Seri Setia assemblyman Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Suhaimi Shafiei (Sri Muda), Yaakob Sapari (Kota Anggerik) and Amirudin Shari (Batu Caves).

The sources said opposition leader and party de facto chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is keen for Nik Nazmi Nik, who is the PKR Youth chief, to be appointed to the exco.

Nik Nazmi is also the Selangor deputy speaker and he will not be able to hold that position if he becomes an exco member due to a conflict of interest and the doctrine of the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches of government.

If he does become an exco member, the Pakatan Rakyat parties would then have to decide on a candidate to be the new deputy speaker and nominate the person for a vote by the assembly when it convenes.

The three PKR excos under Khalid's administration were Elizabeth Wong, Dr Daroyah Alwi and Rodziah Ismail.

Pakatan sources who didn't want to be named because the matter was still being finalised, also said that while Azmin may retain Wong, he might drop Dr Daroyah and Rodziah, who are perceived to be Khalid's supporters.

Suhaimi and Amirudin, on the other hand, are said to be Azmin's supporters.

Meanwhile, a Selangor DAP leader said there was no justification to make changes to its excos representing the party in the state government as its three excos had done their jobs well.

"I don't foresee any reasons to do so, it's very likely the party will submit the same names," said the state party leader.

Selangor DAP chief Tony Pua when contacted would only say that the list "is being finalised".

DAP's three excos in Khalid's administration were Teng Chang Kim, Ean Yong Hian Wah and V. Ganabatirau, until he sacked them and the three PKR excos after he was booted out from PKR for defying party orders to step down for PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Azmin, who was sworn in as Selangor's 15th menteri besar yesterday, had said this morning that the new line-up of state executive councillors was nearly confirmed following a discussion with Pakatan Rakyat component parties yesterday.

A second meeting is scheduled to be held this evening to rubber-stamp the candidates before the list is handed to the Sultan of Selangor tomorrow.

"We are currently studying the new exco line-up. A discussion was held yesterday and a further meeting will be held this evening," Azmin had told reporters earlier on his first day in the menteri besar's office.

"We will complete this process by tomorrow before presenting the list to Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah for the swearing-in ceremony on Friday."

PAS, too, will propose the name of the same four excos who had previously served under Khalid, and is confident that they will be retained.

The four are Iskandar Samad, Sallehin Mukhyi, Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi and Dr Halimah Ali.

- TMI