Nine states have already sworn in their menteri besar, with one – Sabah – swearing in two chief ministers, while Penang’s chief minister takes his oath on Monday, and Perlis and Pahang likely to swear in their menteri besar by this week.
PERLIS
On May 11, Perlis Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim announced that Tambun Tulang assemblyman, who also is his younger brother Datuk Ismail Kassim, has been nominated for the Menteri Besar post.
Apparently, Perlis BN deputy chairman and Menteri Besar in the past term Datuk Seri Azlan Man was in the dark over Ismail’s nomination.
“I am leaving it to the Palace to decide on the Menteri Besar post because it is the prerogative of the Perlis Ruler,” he said.
He added that he had submitted a letter to notify the Raja of Perlis on Saturday.
“The palace will decide on the date for the swearing-in ceremony,” he said.
Asked on why Azlan was replaced and whether the latter agreed to the decision, he replied: “BN made the decision, so we expect all the BN reps to support the decision.”
Shahidan also denied that BN-elected reps in Perlis would defect to Pakatan Harapan (PH).
“We won a two-thirds majority in the state legislative assembly, compared to PH with three seats and PAS with two seats, so why should they cross over?” he said.
Shahidan also said speculation that he was leading the BN-elected reps to jump ship as BN Perlis expected to face trouble getting support from the PH federal government “was not an issue”.
“Who are they to speculate about this funding issue? They should not comment on matters that they have knowledge of.
“I am among those well-versed on the relationship between Perlis and the federal government; Perlis has no financial problems.
“In fact, I am known as the person who has been looking after the welfare of the people in Perlis, so we will move on and to fulfill our manifesto for the state,” he said.
KEDAH
Kedah PH chairman Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir was sworn in as the 13th Kedah Menteri Besar on May 11.
This is the second time Mukhriz is made Kedah Menteri Besar after he was appointed for the first time in GE13.
However, in 2016, he was forced to relinquish the post following a revolt among the 20 BN assemblymen who claimed to have lost their confidence in his leadership.
In the recent election, PH won 18 seats, PAS followed with 15 seats, while BN won three seats.
Reportedly, PPBM insiders who spoke on condition of anonymity told the Malay Mail that a BN assemblyman had decided to switch allegiances, giving PH the majority of support in the state assembly.
The assemblyman was not named.
Earlier, Kedah BN chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah had conceded defeat.
PENANG
Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow has been named as the state’s fifth Chief Minister.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who was two-term Penang Chief Minister, made the announcement during a press conference at Komtar on Sunday (May 13).
This follows after Lim was named as the Finance Minister by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Saturday (May 12).
“I was here as Penang Chief Minister for 10 years, and Chow would replace me to be the fifth Chief Minister in Penang history.
“I will always miss Penang because, without the chance given by the Penang people, I feel I would not have the chance to perform,” said Lim.
Lim said Chow would be sworn in on Monday (May 14) before Penang Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas.
Chow said he is thankful for the 10 years of leadership under Lim.
He added that the trust entrusted to him will be the drive for him to manage the state and implement the promises made in the PH manifesto.
Chow, 59, was the state exco member in charge of Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation since 2008.
He won the Tanjong parliamentary and Padang Kota state seats in GE14.
Lim added that he and his wife Betty Chew were leaving Penang with a heavy heart.
“I am also sorry for any mistakes I have made in my past 10 years. We might not have been perfect, but we got 80 out of 100 marks. That is still excellent,” he said.
PH won a landslide victory in Penang with 37 state seats and 12 parliament seats.
Following PH’s dominant victory in the state, Penang BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow announced his decision to retire from politics.
There will only be three opposition assemblymen in the 40-seat Penang state assembly compared to 10 previously.
Two are from BN, the other is from PAS.
DAP will have 19 assemblymen after winning all its seats – the same as previously – while PKR will have 14 assemblymen, up from 10 previously.
For the first time, there will be two assemblymen each from Amanah and Pribumi.
PERAK
Perak PH chairman Ahmad Faizal Azumu, who is also Chenderiang assemblyman, was sworn in as the 12th Menteri Besar of the state on May 12.
PH formed the state government after gaining a simple majority of 31 seats following the crossing over of two assemblymen from BN.
SELANGOR
Datuk Seri Azmin Ali was sworn in as Selangor Mentri Besar before state ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah at Istana Alam Shah on May 11.
This is the PKR deputy president’s second term as Selangor’s top executive.
He successfully defended his Gombak parliamentary seat and Bukit Antarabangsa state seat in this election.
PH captured a large majority of state legislative assembly seats in GE14, winning 51 out of the 56 state legislative assembly seats.
Four seats were won by BN and one by PAS.
The state’s 10 executive councillors will be sworn in on Monday.
According to PH sources, PKR is expected to get five out of the 10 positions, followed by DAP with three.
Pribumi and Amanah are expected to get one seat each.
DAP’s Sekinchan assemblyman Ng Suee Lim is likely to be appointed as the new Speaker while someone from Amanah will be the Deputy Speaker.
NEGERI SEMBILAN
Negeri Sembilan PH chairperson Aminuddin Harun, 51, was sworn in as the eighth Menteri Besar of the state on May 12.
The three-term Sikamat assemblyman is from Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
PH won 20 of the 36 state seats in the May 9 polls.
BN won 16 seats while PAS failed to win any.
MELAKA
Melaka PH chairman Adly Zahari was sworn in as the 11th chief minister of Melaka on May 11.
The ceremony, witnessed and officiated by Melaka Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaacob, was held at the Dewan Seri Utama within the Yang di-Pertua Negeri’s office compound.
Adly, who represents Amanah, won the Bukit Katil state seat.
PH won 15 of the 28 state seats, enabling it to form a simple majority government in the state.
JOHOR
Johor PH secretary Datuk Osman Sapian was sworn in as the state’s 16th Mentri Besar on May 12.
The 67-year-old Kempas assemblyman is from Bersatu.
He replaces Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin from BN who served as Mentri Besar for only one term.
The four-party PH pact won 36 state seats out of 56, while BN had 19 seats and PAS one seat.
KELANTAN
Ahmad Yakob was once again sworn in as Kelantan Menteri Besar which took place on May 10.
This will be Ahmad’s second term in office.
Ahmad won the Pasir Pekan state seat in GE14.
Kelantan PAS succeeded in retaining control of the state after winning 37 out of the 45 state assembly seats.
TERENGGANU
Rhu Rendang state assemblyman Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar took his oath as the new Terengganu Mentri Besar on May 11.
The appointment of Ahmad followed the success of PAS to form the state government after winning 22 of the 32 state seats.
At the swearing-in ceremony, Sultan Mizan also appointed 10 PAS assemblymen as members of the new State Executive Council.
Ahmad was the political secretary of Hadi Awang and PAS central election director.
PAHANG
The Regent of Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has postponed the Pahang Menteri Besar swearing-in ceremony which was scheduled for May 12 as he needed more time.
The ruler said there were no problems (on the appointment) and the postponement was because he needed time to identify all the elected representatives.
State BN chairman Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, who won the Pelangai state seat for the eighth consecutive term, was expected to be reinstated as Menteri Besar for the fifth term after BN retained the state in GE14.
It is learnt that the swearing-in ceremony will be held by Wednesday.
In the recent election, BN won 25 state seats to obtain a simple majority to form the state government while PH and Pas each won nine and eight state seats respectively.
SABAH
Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal was sworn in as Sabah Chief Minister on May 12.
His swearing in took place less than 48 hours after Tan Sri Musa Aman was sworn in as Chief Minister.
The swearing in of Shafie might trigger a legal constitutional battle as it appears Sabah has two chief ministers and Musa has yet to resign.