No representatives from PPBM and Amanah in new Penang state govt

GEORGE TOWN: Newly sworn-in Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has sprung a surprise by leaving out the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) and Parti Amanah Nasional representatives from the state government.
During the swearing-in ceremony, there were no Amanah or PPBM representatives in the line-up.
Penang's Amanah chairperson Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusuf Rawa could not be reached for comment but Penang PPBM chairperson Marzuki Yahaya said that he would need to seek clarification.
"I was also made to believe that PPBM may not get a slot due to a limit in terms of the number of state executive councillors."
Penang has detailed 11 state executive councillors inclusive of the chief minister and two deputy chief ministers.
Out of the 37 state seats won by the Pakatan Harapan alliance, 19 went to DAP, 14 to PKR and two each to PPBM and Amanah.
Three other seats were won by the Opposition – Barisan Nasional (BN) and PAS respectively.
Chow 's two deputies were Datuk Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman, a relatively low profile PKR leader, who contested for the first time here, and Dr P. Ramasamy, who will be going into his third term.
Zakiyuddin, when contacted, has expressed his gratitude to the state for their trust in him.
The others in the list were DAP veterans; Phee Boon Poh, Chong Eng, state DAP deputy chairperson Jagdeep Singh Deo, Zairil Khir Johari, Yeoh Soon Hin and Soon Lip Chee.
The remaining PKR leaders were former State Speaker Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain and the party's youth deputy head Dr Afif Bahardin.
Political observer Rahmad Isahak reckoned that Pakatan has gone flat in terms of the line-up as it lacks imagination and fails to provide a wholesome representation of the communities in Penang.
"It is not about supporting BN or PAS, of which neither has much political mileage nowadays. But it is about capturing the imagination of the people after much was promised during the campaigning and in the manifesto."
"The benefit of doubt shall prevail but Pakatan could have done better by perhaps appointing more state exco members and giving a chance to PPBM and Amanah."