MELAKA: The appointment of Pakatan Harapan assemblymen into the new Melaka executive councillor (exco) line-up must include significant portfolios, said Datuk Seri Idris Haron (pic).

The former Melaka chief minister said the proposed unity state government should be similar to the method adopted by the Federal Government.

"A portfolio like Deputy State Legislative Assembly Speaker is considered a ‘negligible' exco portfolio to be entrusted to Pakatan assemblymen and it's not in line with federal government's spirit.

"The state government will be doomed to fail if such insignificant exco portfolios are entrusted to Pakatan," he said in an interview here on Sunday (April 2).

Idris was commenting on a report by a Bahasa Malaysia news portal on Saturday (April 1) that two Pakatan representatives are expected to be absorbed under the new exco line-up that would be announced soon by Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Jusoh.

The report also mentioned that one of the portfolios entrusted to Pakatan is likely the Deputy State Legislative Assembly Speaker.

Currently, Pakatan has five state seats out of 28 and four are under DAP.

Idris said although Barisan Nasional commands the majority of the state seats, the formation of a unity state government would be a benchmark for the forthcoming six state elections.

"Hence, Pakatan lawmakers must be considered for important portfolios," he said.

Earlier in a live talk show, Idris said Ab Rauf is expected to face challenges on how to effectively execute the power-sharing formula at the grassroots level owing that the administrative structure consists of Barisan and Pakatan.

He also expressed hopes that the distribution of exco portfolios to Pakatan lawmakers is augmented without discrimination.

"I had proposed the idea of a unity state government before the Melaka election in 2021 and it finally materialised," he told the live telecast show that was shared via social media on Saturday (April 1).

Idris also said he trusts that Ab Rauf will now focus on regaining Melaka's reputation as "Venice of the East" as the current political climate has cooled down with the latter helming the state.

"It's now the time to revive the state's status as a tourist and industrial haven," he added.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/04/02/pakatan-reps-should-be-given-significant-portfolios-in-new-melaka-exco-line-up-says-idris