Penang BN Appoints Own Exco To Monitor State Gov't Administration - Bernama

PENANG, March 30 (Bernama) -- The Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) Sunday announced the setting up of its own executive committee (Exco), dubbed as the State-Development Committee, to monitor the Opposition-led state's administration, as well as to be the people's channel for suggestions and opinions.

Penang BN chairman, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the state liason committee meeting Sunday agreed to the establishment of the committee, which comprised of the 11 state assemblymen who won in the March 8 general election.

He said each of them were given portfolios similar to the current state Exco and that they would monitor the development of their particular portfolios.

Speaking to the media after chairing the committee's meeting here Sunday, Koh said Opposition leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim would lead the committee while Bahang assemblyman Datuk Dr Hilmi Yahaya would be responsible for International Trade and Industry Development as well as the Land Affairs and Development portfolio.

Shabudin Yahaya (Permatang Berangan) will handle Religious Affairs, Cooperatives and Entrepreneur Development, Information and Social Affairs; Datuk Jahara Hamid (Telok Air Tawar) State Economic Planning, Education, Human Resource and Science, Technology and Inovation; Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah (Seberang Jaya) Local Government, Environment and Traffic Management; Datuk Roslan Saidin (Pinang Tunggal) Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs.

Datuk Jasmin Mohamad (Sungai Dua) will be in charge of Works, Utility and Transport; Farid Md Saad (Pulau Betong) Tourism Development, Culture, Art and Heritage; Datuk Mahmud Zakaria (Sungai Acheh) Health, Welfare and Loving Society; Datuk Azhar Ibrahim (Penaga) Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, Rural Development and Flood Insulation.

Syed Ameruddin Syed Ahmad (Bayan Lepas) will handle Town and Village Planning and Housing and Zabariah Wahab the Youth and Sports and Women, Family and Community portfolios.

Koh said the committee was set up in response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi call to BN assemblymen in the state to play the role of an effective opposition.

He added that the committee would set up a website soon to interact better with the people.

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