GEORGE TOWN: Jagdeep Singh Deo, eldest son of DAP chairman Karpal Singh, is among four new faces in the Penang state exco line-up.

The 42-year-old lawyer, who retained his Dato Keramat seat, takes over the Town, Country Planning and Housing committee portfolio.

PKR's Mohd Rashid Hasnon is the new Deputy Chief Minister I. He heads the Industrial Development and International Trade; and Cooperatives, Community Relations and Entrepreneur Development committees.

The other two fresh faces in the state exco are Chong Eng (DAP-Padang Lalang) and Dr Afif Bahardin (PKR-Seberang Jaya).

Describing his portfolio as “very challenging”, Jagdeep said his immediate priority was to ensure that the implementation of the state government's affordable housing projects was expedited.

In deep thought: State secretary Datuk Farizan Darus (right) observing as Jagdeep signs the appointment letter.

“I want to see the affordable housing project in Jalan S.P. Chelliah kick off that's a priority. I will also be looking into the issuance of strata titles for both public and private home owners as this is a hot issue that requires our attention,” he said.

Chong Eng, the former Bukit Mertajam MP, will head the Youth and Sports, Women, Family and Community Development and Arts committees while Dr Afif will chair the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, Rural Development and Health committees.

The six exco members retained were Dr P. Ramasamy (Economic Planning; Education and Human Resources; Science, Technology and Innovation), who also keeps his Deputy Chief Minister II post, Chow Kon Yeow (Local Government; Traffic Management; Flood Mitigation), Datuk Abdul Malik Abul Kassim (Religious Affairs; Domestic Trade; Consumer Affairs), Lim Hock Seng (Works; Utilities; Transport), Law Heng Kiang (Tourism Development; Culture) and Phee Boon Poh (Welfare; Caring Society; Environment). They were sworn in before Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas at Dewan Sri Pinang yesterday in the presence of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Lim said the new line-up would empower, enable and enrich the people of all races, religions and political backgrounds.

“I believe this new team reflects Pakatan Rakyat's intentions to speak up for all, act fairly and help everyone,” he said in a statement.

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