Perak MB: State excos to keep current portfolios, only changes in agencies

IPOH, Dec 13 — Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad today said that there will be no changes in the portfolios given to the state executive councillors (exco).

However, Saarani said that there will be some amendments to the agencies and departments under the portfolio of each exco.

"The portfolios will be maintained for the exco, but there will be slight changes in the agencies and departments under the portfolios.

"This is because we only have 10 exco and they can’t handle much. We will only give each exco to serve two to three ministries. No more than that,” he told a press conference after attending a radio interview session with Perak FM at Kompleks Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah here.

Saraani also said that the state will avoid each exco from overlapping in the ministries they serve.

"We don’t want a situation where when a meeting is held by a ministry, there needs to be three or four exco required to attend the meeting,” he added.

Saraani said the state government had held three exco meetings since the formation of the coalition government in Perak post the 15th general election and added there are no issues in state administration.

"All the exco understand and they have adapted to the way I conduct the meeting. And I believe it will help us to continue the development agenda for the state,” he said.

Separately, when asked if a politician is allowed to give a speech or conduct political activities in mosques, Saarani said politicians are prohibited from giving speeches in mosques.

"The State Ruler’s decree is very clear. Politicians should not conduct any speech in the mosque. Even I, who is in charge of the Islamic portfolio, at many times refused invitations to give a speech at the mosque.

"Therefore, any state assemblymen who were previously a tauliah holder or ustaz and have given kuliah in the mosque, can’t continue it anymore as the person is now a politician,” he said.