KUALA LUMPUR – Perak’s Kota Tampan assemblyman Datuk Saarani Mohamad has been sworn in as menteri besar by Sultan Nazrin Shah at Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar today.
The ceremony, which began at 5.30pm, saw the Umno state chairman being reappointed into office after receiving support from 33 assemblymen from the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalitions.
In the recently concluded 15th general election, the coalition with the biggest majority was Perikatan Nasional (PN) with 26 seats, followed by PH with 24 seats and BN with nine seats.
Despite the fact that Saarani’s coalition commands the lowest number of seats in the House, PH did not contest his candidacy to lead the unity government’s administration.
Earlier, Dewan Negara Perak member Tan Sri Mohd Annuar Zaini told a press conference that Sultan Nazrin had also summoned PN representatives Razman Zakaria and Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharudin to see whether or not they command the majority of the assembly.
“They were asked if they had the numbers to form a government. They both admitted that they didn’t have the numbers to form a government and understood that His Royal Highness had to form a government based on the state constitution and who commands the simple majority.”
He explained that seeing as there were no disputes by PN, the Perak ruler was satisfied with what BN and PH had presented.
Perak Amanah chairman Datuk Asmuni Awi also confirmed that Saarani’s candidacy had no disputes from his coalition either. – The Vibes, November 21, 2022
