Azmin Named Selangor Opposition Leader Lau Is Speaker

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Hulu Kelang assemblyperson Azmin Ali has been appointed as the opposition leader in the Selangor state legislative assembly.
The announcement was made by newly appointed Selangor state assembly speaker Lau Weng San.
Former Banting assemblyperson Lau also confirmed that he received Azmin's (above) nomination letter from Perikatan Nasional on Sept 15.
Newly appointed Selangor state assembly speaker Lau Weng SanThe position of the opposition leader was previously held by BN Sungai Air Tawar assemblyperson Rizam Ismail.
However, BN and Pakatan Harapan joined forces in the state election on Aug 12, which saw them winning 34 out of 56 state assembly seats.
Today, Lau was elected as speaker after getting 34 votes. He defeated Selangor PAS deputy commissioner Mohd Fuad Mohd Salleh who received 22 votes.
Selangor state assembly secretary J Gayathri Prasena disclosed that the secret ballot at the first meeting of the first term of the 15th state assembly had been conducted following the submission of the two names for speaker.
Meanwhile, Mohd Kamri Kamaruddin, who is also Azmin's successor as Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyperson, was elected as the deputy speaker after getting 34 votes, defeating Sungai Ramal assemblyperson Mohd Shafie Ngah who received 22 votes.
Overall, 56 assemblypersons took the oath of office, led by Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari and 10 members of the state executive council.
PN’s portfolio committee
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that Azmin announced the selection of 10 members from among the Selangor opposition as part of the 2023 portfolio committee established by PN to create a more effective balancing mechanism.
He said this was aimed at ensuring that discussions and debates were more focused on issues that could help the people.
"Those leading these 10 portfolios will be assisted by three other committee members who will be other PN assemblypersons, based on their respective experiences and backgrounds," he said.
He added that they will be assisted by a special secretariat established to help them obtain reference material from several sources.
The 10 portfolios are finance, economy, land and natural resources headed by Azmin himself; education and human resources (Paya Jaras representative Halim Tamuri); local government, housing and infrastructure (Dengkil representative Jamil Salleh); health, environment and climate change (Taman Medan representative Dr Afif Bahardin) as well as science, technology, innovation, communication and digital industry (Batang Kali assemblyperson Muhammad Muhaimin Harith Abdullah Sani).
Other portfolios include youth and sports (Gombak Setia representative Muhammad Hilman Idham); Islam and rural development (Semenyih representative Nushi Mahfodz); women, family, welfare and unity (Permatang representative Nurul Syazwani Noh), agriculture and agro-food industry (Sabak representative Sallehen Mukhyi) and Malay heritage tourism and culture (Bukit Melawati assemblyperson Noorazley Yahya). - Mkini

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