Updated on 10 Feb 2009 at 4.31pm
Corrected on 10 Feb 2009 at 10.00am
Live updates
1.15pm Newly appointed Perak state exco Hamidah Osman says she can work closely with Indian Malaysians. Referring to her remark in the state assembly last year describing Indian Malaysians as being more dangerous than snakes, she said: “I was misquoted and my comments misinterpreted for political purpose. I didn’t mean it from my heart.” She also said instead of celebrating the new exco appointments, it was more appropriate for Barisan Nasional to “admit our weakness and work on regaining people’s confidence.”
Dr Mah Hang Soon
1.07pm Newly-appointed state exco, Dr Mah Hang Soon, says no comment yet on converting TOL (temporary occupation licence) land to freehold as promised by Pakatan Rakyat government. “We will have to study the matter because it involves land title conversion,” he said. Mah’s portfolio includes non-Muslim affairs and the TOL land issue is a critical one for Chinese Malaysian pomelo farmers.
Mah is the sole Chinese Malaysian in the new state exco.
11.40am Recently sworn-in Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir is expected to hold a press conference later in the day.
11.35am Six new Perak state executive councillors, comprising two old and four new faces, took their oaths of office before the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, at Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar this morning, Bernama reports.
The four newcomers were Perak MCA Youth head Dr Mah Hang Soon (Chenderiang assemblyperson), Perak Umno Youth head Zainol Padzi Paharudin (Sungai Manik), Hamidah Osman (Sungai Rapat) and Mohd Zahir Abdul Khalid (Kamunting).
The other two were former state executive councillors Datuk Ramly Zahari (Manong) and Datuk Saarani Mohamad (Kota Tampan).
They signed their letters of appointment witnessed by Ipoh High Court judge Datuk Zainal Adzam Abdul Ghani.
The number of state executive councillors announced today was way short of the 10 in the previous council under the Pakatan Rakyat government.
Ramly, 52, is the most experienced among them, having been a state executive councillor from 1995 until the Barisan Nasional state government was toppled in the March general election last year.
Ramli, who is state Umno liaison secretary, is a Universiti Malaya graduate, and served as Manjung district council deputy president and assistant district officer of Taiping and Pengakalan Hulu.
After winning the Manong state seat in 1995, he was appointed a state executive councillor in charge of agriculture and held various portfolios after that.
Saarani, the Lenggong Umno division head and Perak Umno liaison committee member, held the post of state executive councillor for Information and Rural Development while Dr Mah, 44, is a cardiologist and a Universiti Malaya graduate.
Mohd Zahir, 41, a former corporate manager of Universiti Teknologi Petronas, holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Wales and a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Leeds, England.
HamidahHamidah, 48, the only woman in the council, is the Gopeng Umno division Wanita chief and holds a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from Universiti Teknologi Mara.
11.15am Embattled Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and his exco leave the state secretariat after being prevented from entering their offices by the police, press reports say.
11.10am Embattled Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and his exco are prevented by police from entering their offices at the Perak Darul Ridzuan Building in Ipoh, reports Merdeka Review. They have been ordered to disperse.
10.55am Swearing-in ceremony of new Perak exco in front of Sultan Azlan Shah now in progress. Thus far, the following state assemblypersons have been sworn in, according to Bernama.
Hamidah Osman (Sungai Rapat), 48
Datuk Ramly Zahari (Manong), 52
Dr Mah Hang Soon (Chenderiang), 44
Datuk Saarani Mohamad (Kota Tampan)
Mohd Zahir Abdul Khalid (Kamunting), 41
Zainol Fadzi Paharudin (Sungai Manik)
10.18am Palace official says swearing-in ceremony for new Perak exco will only be at 10.30am.
10.15am At the Perak Darul Ridzuan Building in Ipoh, FRU are on standy at the entrance to the Menteri Besar’s office to prevent embattled Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and his exco from entering the building, Merdeka Review reports.
All quiet in front of the palace gates
8.30am Roads leading to Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar are blocked by police. Only police officers and state executive councillor cars are allowed in. No protestors in sight. Most likely, they are gathered at the Perak Darul Ridzuan Building where the Menteri Besar’s office is.
Embattled Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and his exco under the Pakatan Rakyat state government have said they intend to report to work as usual at 10am. However, the police are likely to prevent Nizar and his exco from entering the building.
FRU trucks on the road leading to Istana Iskandariah
7.40am Sultan Azlan Shah arrives at Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar for the swearing in ceremony of the new Perak state executive council. Police presence at different points up Bukit Chandan leading to the presence. Nine FRU trucks are visible. It’s still early before the 10am swearing in ceremony of the selected Barisan Nasional state assemblypersons into the exco. So far, it’s uneventful.
It will be a full day. Embattled Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and his exco under the Pakatan Rakyat state government will attempt to enter their offices in Ipoh at 10am as well. (Corrected) It is also the first day hearing of the corruption charges against Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang) and Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu (Changkat Jering) at the Ipoh Sessions Court. 
ashok says
I am ashamed to be a Malaysian and I am ashamed of his royal highness the Sultan of Perak’s absurd decision that robbed people of their liberty and freedom.
JR . Tokiens says
It’s a waste of time to see those clowns taking their oath as state exco! And further more … they don’t represent the mandate of the Perakians! They are kerajaan haram as mentioned by Kelantan’s Menteri Besar.
vishie says
Someone should ask HRH the following simple question: the right to associate and disassociate is provided for in the constitution. It applies to all organizations. However the constitution is silent on the right to carry a mandate. You may switch camps/groups/parties/orgs etc., but does the mandate follow you as well? One more thing: today’s ceremony is about swearing in. Among other things surely is to uphold the constitution of the state. Has it been upheld or trampled on thus far?
zach says
Keep us posted.
Steven@Pulau Pinang says
As a Penangite, I started to learn more of some of our shameful politicians who only think of themselves rather than us, the people who vote them in to take care of our living environment. Politicians looking for continuous materialism such as the Camry must be voted out come next elections.
Goldee says
Why bother, let them swear as they pleased. As far as the majority of the people are concerned the State Government under PR is the legitimate government.
We voters are treated like rubbish and have no rights at all. Election is only a ceremony exercised every five years. What’s the point of holding elections when the wishes of the people are not respected?
BN will always be restless so long as they don’t rule. They think they are the most superior and the rest of the Malaysians are stupid and not capable to rule.
selvanathan says
What was Umno Youth doing when there were demonstrations against the Sultan of Terengganu last year over the appointment of the new Menteri Besar? They act according to their whims and fancies, now they claim loyalty to Sultan of Perak.
johnny says
Those exco members are HARAM.
magician says
This is a disgrace to democracy. All those sworn in are accomplices to a coup d’etat.
roy says
Ha, Ha. No use crying over spilt milk. All you PR supporters can go try fish in some other shallow pond.
ken liew says
With BN in the state, I BET HARDLY the expansion of Kamunting will run smooth.
And they will ISA all the opposition leaders and bloggers to have a two-year party in Kamunting, as RPK said.
freeperak says
Why are they in such a hurry to swear in the new state exco? By bulldozing through the installation of a new state government in Perak with questionable validity, they will alienate the people of Perak further. This will definitely come back to haunt them in the upcoming Bukit Gantang by-election. The people of Perak will translate their anger to a resounding vote against the BN.
http://freeperak.wordpress.com/
Aman Belon says
Three Questions on Zambry:
Is he a medical doctor or PhD?
Where did he get that degree?
What was the subject of his Master’s thesis at UIA (and its contents)?
Lainie says
“I didn’t mean it from my heart.”
Ah, I see. Per chance she will like to explain where the meaning came from, then?
sgbertih says
Hamidah Osman called the Indians snakes and the Indians will be really foolish to to be part of this congregation!
Any Indians with an ounce of dignity will shun this BN-installed exco.
opps&supps says
Dear rakyat, please disinfect Perak quickly.