MB-designate: (From left) Muhammad Sanusi, Aminuddin, Amirudin and Ahmad Samsuri.
PETALING JAYA: The heads of six states which held the elections on Saturday are chosen based on their capabilities to propel the states to a higher level.
Leaders from all coalitions which now hold the six state governments said the criteria were not the party or race of the candidate, but more to what the politician could bring to the post as a driver of the state’s economy and well-being in all aspects.
At press time, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow was sworn in, while Kedah and Negri Sembilan’s mentri besar – namely Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor and Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun – are expected to be sworn in today.
Before the elections, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had announced candidates for the mentri besar and chief minister of states under the unity government rule – namely Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Penang.
He said that should Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional retain the states, the caretaker mentri besar of Selangor and Negri Sembilan and the chief minister of Penang were the “poster boys” of the states, meaning that the trio would be reappointed.
In Negri Sembilan, Aminuddin is the candidate of choice as he reasoned that continuity would be best for the state right now.
He said extending his term as the mentri besar meant that he could then continue his programmes and policies to develop the state wholly from the previous term.
“It is important for us to increase the standard of living of the people – (eradicating) poverty and such.
“Just because Negri Sembilan is a developed state, it doesn’t mean these would automatically fall into place. That is not true as some are left behind.
“After five years, I see that there have been changes in Negri Sembilan for the better, in terms of investment and quality of living of the normal folk,” said Aminuddin.
In Selangor, also under Pakatan-Barisan rule, Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari is the poster boy and is expected to be sworn in, albeit delayed as Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah is away.
Amirudin had stated that he believed he would be announced as the possible candidate for the post, as it would be a continuity of the big plans he already had in place for the state.
“I have been accepted by Selangorians as someone ‘who has delivered sustainability’. I believe the people accepted me as a calm leader, as I have had to face many crises – the Covid-19 pandemic, changes in federal governments and the current economic issues.
“So far, the realignment of policies I introduced in the state have been accepted,” said Amirudin.
In Penang, Chow was sworn in yesterday for a second term. Chow was first elected Chief Minister in 2018.
Chow, 65, who is Padang Kota assemblyman, took the oath of office before the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak.
Under his tenure as the Penang Pakatan chief, Chow delivered a two-thirds majority win for the unity coalition in Penang in the state elections on Saturday.
According to Penang DAP elections state chief and newly-elected Paya Terubong state assemblyman Wong Hon Wai, Chow was the right choice to head Penang once again as he had received the people’s mandate.
He said Chow had managed to convince the people with his past track record and a promise of a bright future under his leadership.
“The majority of Penangites had given a strong mandate to the team led by Chief Minister Chow.
“Their decision was based on former Pakatan state government’s performance for 15 years since 2008.
“The people of Penang were also convinced of our future planning as laid down by our Pakatan-Barisan Penang state election manifesto,” said Wong.
In Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah, where the states were won by Perikatan, PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the candidates for the posts of mentri besar, in the three states, must be able to deliver results which bring progress to the people.
Tuan Ibrahim said the party had decided to propose to the Perikatan coalition that both Kedah and Terengganu mentri besar – namely Muhammad Sanusi and Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar – be retained.
Muhammad Sanusi would be sworn in this morning before the Sultan of Kedah Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah.
As for Kelantan, PAS had proposed a technocrat who can steer the state forward economically, in line with Islamic values, be appointed to the mentri besar position.
At press time, a source said that Temangan state assemblyman Datuk Dr Fadzli Hassan was the most likely candidate for the Kelantan mentri besar post.
Fadzli, a former International Islamic University Malaysia law lecturer, is a postgraduate from Warwick University and has a PhD in law from Birmingham University in Britain.
“PAS will propose the names of mentri besar candidates to the Sultans of the states before an official announcement is made.
“All state assemblymen who won the seats in these three states are qualified to be the mentri besar,” said Tuan Ibrahim.
“However, in states where PAS controls the state as part of Perikatan, we see the need for religious leadership and technocracy for the states to progress in terms of governance, economic development and planning.
“A government which is supported by various experts has the extra edge when enforcing the planning of the future of the state.
“The excellent win by PAS as part of the Perikatan coalition has the confidence of the people now. PAS has managed to convince the people and the states under its control in the Malay belt of the east coast.
“Nevertheless, PAS’ inroads into the west coast states such as Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan is a signal that PAS is now ready to be a national party, rather than the state-focused party it once was.
“Joining the coalition of Perikatan was the right choice for PAS to ensure that it stayed relevant to new voters,” said Tuan Ibrahim, also the Kubang Kerian MP and Pahang opposition chief.
