Lim unveils Exco line-up to live up to 'Penang Leads' motto

GEORGE TOWN, Thurs: 

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is confident that the his State Exco line-up will drive the state to greater progress, living up to the 'Penang Leads' motto.

“The team comprised individuals who were well qualified, idealistic, dynamic and full of energy,” he said after the swearing-in ceremony of the two Deputy Chief Ministers along with other Exco members before the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas in Dewan Sri Pinang here. 

The two deputy chief ministers sworn in were former professor Dr P. Ramasamy of DAP and former business consultant Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). Ramasamy is the first Malaysian of Indian descent to be made a deputy chief minister.

The other Exco members appointed were Chow Kon Yeow (DAP), Wong Hon Wai (DAP), Lim Hock Seng (DAP), Ong Kok Fooi (DAP), Phee Boon Poh (DAP), Law Heng Kiang (DAP), Law Choo Kiang (PKR) and Abdul Malik Abul Kassim (PKR).

The Exco line-up and their respective portfolios are as follows:
1. Lim Guan Eng: International Trade and Industry Development, Land Affairs and Land Development2. Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin: Religious Affairs, Co-operative and Entrepreneur Development, Community Relations
3. Dr P. Ramasamy: State Economic Planning, Education and Human Resources, Science, Technology and Innovation
4. Chow Kon Yeow: Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment
5. Lim Hock Seng: Public Works, Utilities (Energy, Water and Telecommunication), Transportation (Air, Sea and Rail Services)
6. Law Heng Kiang: Tourism Development, Culture, Arts and Heritage
7. Abdul Malik Abul Kassim: Domestic Trade and Consumer Affair 
8. Phee Boon Poh: Health and Welfare, Caring Society
9. Wong Hon Wai: Town and County Planning, Housing
10. Law Choo Kiang: Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, Rural Development, Flood Mitigation
11. Ong Kok Fooi: Youth and Sports, Women, Family and Community Development

The DAP-PKR joint government earlier agreed on the allocation for the Exco seats where seven would go to the DAP and three to PKR, inclusive of the two deputy chief ministers posts.

It was also agreed that Abdul Halim Hussein of the PKR would be made Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly and Machang Bubok assemblyman Tan Hock Leong (PKR) as Deputy Speaker.

Lim described the Exco allocation as “well-distributed”, based on discussions between the DAP and PKR.

Lim denied the appointment of two deputy chief ministers was a populist move. He also denied his recent announcement on the waiver of summonses for the Penang Island and Seberang Prai Municipal Councils' parking and hawker licenses was another populist move.