Nizar sworn in as MB at last - NST

By : M. Husairy Othman and Shahrul Hafeez

KUALA KANGSAR: After a week of false starts, state Pas liaison secretary and Pasir Panjang state assemblyman Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin was finally sworn in as Perak's 10th menteri besar.

The 51-year-old engineer received his letter of appointment at 11.45am from the Regent of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, in a simple ceremony held at Istana Iskandariah here yesterday.

Witnessing the event were state dignitaries and outgoing menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali and wife Datin Seri Kamariah Mokri.

At a nearby resort, where Nizar gave his first official press conference, he was greeted by shouts of makkal sakhti (people power).

He pledged a state government that would not employ discriminatory policies or development programmes, adding that policies and programmes implemented by the previous state government would be continued as long as they benefited the state and the people.

Nizar also said the tripartite goverment, comprising Pas, DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), which he dubbed "Barisan Rakyat", would honour the promises made by Pas and PKR, including selecting a third of local councillors from non-political parties.

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/Frontpage/2189644/Article/index_html]