Two new Perlis exco appointed to replace two dropped

ARAU: The Perlis state government has two new executive council members with the appointment of Simpang Empat state assemblyman Nurulhisham Yaakob and Chuping state assemblyman Asmaiza Ahmad today.
They take over from Jafperi Othman (Public Utilities and Infrastructure, Rural Development and Poverty Eradication and Health) and Datuk Sabry Ahmad (Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism; Regional, Corridor, New Growth Areas and New Townships Development).
Nurulhisham, 58, and Asmaiza, 42, as well as six others who were reappointed as executive council members, received their appointment letters from Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail at a swearing-in ceremony held in Istana Arau here.
Jafperi and Sabry were present at the ceremony which was also attended by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man and other state assemblymen except the assemblyman for Sanglang, Shukri Ramli from PAS, Shukri Ramli.
The six Exco members who were retained were Ahmad Bakri Ali (Agriculture and Agro-Based industry; Plantation Industries and Commodities, and Green Technology and Entrepreneurial Development and Social Medium Industries.
Azlan told reporters after the ceremony that the two senior Exco members were dropped so as to inject new blood and ideas which were more effective in the developing the state's development agenda.
"Dropping them is not an indication that there will be new candidates in the coming 14th general election. Candidate selection is no longer done traditionally but through new methods which are determined by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
"This method which was used in the Sarawak state election and the by-elections in Sungai Besar, Selangor, Kuala Kangsar, Perak and Tanjung Datu, Sabah has been proven to be the best way, with Barisan Nasional candidates winning with exceptional majority," he said.
On the portfolio for the executive council members, Azlan said he would be making some adjustments to make it more dynamic and will announce them at the Exco meeting in Kangar on Wednesday.
On a separate development, Azlan said the presence of more than 150,000 Umno members at the party's 71st anniversary celebrations in Bukit Jalil last night proved that Umno was still the largest and strongest of all the political parties in Malaysia.
"The huge presence is important as proof that Umno with its membership of 3.5 million is still intact, strong and united, and that it is prepared for the general election at any time," he said. — Bernama