Birthday Boy Mohammad Nizar Sworn In As Perak MB

New Perak MB Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin (right) and Perak DAP chief Ngeh Koo Ham
State Pas secretary Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin was sworn in as the new Menteri Besar of Perak at Istana Iskandariah in this royal town here today.

He took the oath of office, pledge of loyalty and secrecy before the Regent of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah.

Earlier, Mohammad Nizar, 51, an English-trained mechanical engineer, received his instrument of appointment from the Regent.

After the swearing in, Mohammad Nizar signed his letter of appointment witnessed by Ipoh High Court Judge Datuk V. T. Singham.

Present were the Raja di-hilir Perak, Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa; the Raja Puan Muda of Perak, Raja Nor Mahani Raja Shahar Shah; State Secretary Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Hashim and Perak Mufti Datuk Seri Harussani Zakaria.

Former Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali and state assemblymen from the DAP-PKR-PAS coalition state government also attended the ceremony which began at 11.40am.

DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa, Perak PAS commissioner Ahmad Awang and Perak PKR chairman Zulkifli Ibrahim also witnessed the ceremony.

The swearing in was supposed to take place last Thursday but had to be deferred in the absence of clear undertaking from the three parties to form a coalition government.

Following squabbling over the post of executive councillors, Raja Nazrin ordered all the 31 assemblymen from the three parties to submit to him individual letters of undertaking, pledging support to the formation of a coalition government and accepting the appointment of Mohammad Nizar as the Menteri Besar.

This paved the way for the swearing-in today, which coincidentally, is Mohammad Nizar's birthday.

The DAP-PKR-PAS pact wrested control in the state after winning 31 out of 59 seats in the March 8 general election.

Mohammad Nizar won Pasir Panjang state seat, defeating Barisan Nasional's S. Vasan with a majority of 4,474 votes.

He joined Pas in 1995 and contested for the first time in the 2004 general election in Kuala Kangsar parliamentary seat but lost to Umno Wanita chief Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz.

He has held numerous posts in the party including as state Pas treasurer and Kampar Pas division chief.

He was educated at the Sekolah Rendah Anglo Chinese Kampar, Sekolah Menengah Anglo Chinese Kampar and Sekolah Menengah Teknik Ipoh before pursuing A-Level in England and later obtained a degree at the Aston University of Science & Technology in Birmingham.

Mohamad Nizar has worked for the Public Works Department, Urban Development Authority and Penang Development Corporation.

He is married to Fatimah Taat and they have eight children -- five boys and three girls. (Bernama)

***** Hopefully this should put an end to the earlier confusion and the new Perak government will get down to administering the state with equal regard to all citizens. They must however be on constant watch for dirty tricks and sabotage by their nemesis Umno.