MARC lowers rating on Perwaja Steel's RM400m debt notes, outlook negative
Greece struggles on reform, lenders may face rising bill
F&N 1Q earnings fall on absence of Coca-Cola contribution, higher material costs
India court ruling to trigger telecoms industry shakeout
Ex-UBS trader refused bail as bank probe deepens
Maxbiz to submit application against Bursa’s proposed delisting plan
| Penang exco portfolios reshuffled |
| Written by Regina William | |||
| Wednesday, 03 June 2009 13:11 | |||
|
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang state executive council (exco) portfolio has been reshuffled following the swearing-in of newly elected Penanti state assemblyman Mansor Othman as the Deputy Chief Minister 1 (DCM1). Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng will retain his land portfolio and has taken on the entrepreneur development, information and heritage portfolios. Lim also announced that he would be taking over the Invest in Penang Berhad chairmanship from state exco Abdul Malik Abdul Kassim, who just took over the post previously held by former DCM1 Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin. Mansor will handle the cooperative and community relations portfolio and also take over the industrial development and international trade portfolios previously helmed by Lim. Deputy Chief Minister 2 Prof P Ramasamy will maintain his economic planning, education, human resources, science, technology and innovation portfolios, while Chow Kon Yeow will maintain his local government and traffic management portfolios. Abdul Malik Abdul Kassim will retain his religious, domestic trade and consumer affairs portfolios; Lim Hock Seng public works, utilities and transportation; Phee Boon Poh health, welfare, caring society and environment; Law Choo Kiang agriculture and agro-based industries, rural development and flood mitigation; Ong Kok Fooi youth and sport, women, family and community development; while Wong Hon Wai will take on the arts portfolio previous handled by Law Heng Kiang in addition to the town and country planning and housing portfolios. Law Heng Kiang will be in charge of tourism and culture portfolios. When asked why the heritage and arts portfolios previously handed by Law were taken by Lim and Wong respectively, and why the arts and culture portfolios were now separated, Lim said: "I have taken on the heritage portfolio to show the state government's serious commitment towards heritage conservation following Penang's listing as a UNESCO World Heritage site. "It is only right that I take on this responsibility and there is no need to read too much into the reshuffle. "We feel that the tourism and culture portfolios need total concentration and hence the arts portfolio should be given to another exco so that there is a different perspective to it. "The heritage, arts, tourism and culture portfolios have to be separated so that the exco concerned can be dedicated towards each portfolio and we want to be creative and imaginative with a new approach instead of following the norm," Lim said after Mansor's swearing-in before Penang Governor Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas. Lim said Mansor's appointment would add value to the present exco lineup. "I have entrusted him with the international trade and industrial development portfolios, which are challenging and I believe he is the right person to do the job. "Mansor will also be appointed to the boards of the Penang Development Corporation, InvestPenang and Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP)," he added. When asked about the issue of asset declaration by the state exco lineup that had been promised when the Selangor state government did the same months ago, Lim said that it would be done in due time, but declined to elaborate on when it would materialise.
|
|||