YB. R.S.N RAYER - A.D.U.N. SERI DELIMA, PENANG

PENANG: With Dr P. Ramasamy as the first Indian deputy chief minister in the country, Penang could have become the only state with two Indian executive councillors.
A second spot on the exco was offered to two assemblymen, both lawyers. Both turned it down.

Other interests: Jagdeep Singh (left) and Rayer celebrating their wins in the general election on Saturday. Both rejected the offer to be state executive councillors.

Sources said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is party secretary-general, first offered the post to Datuk Keramat assemblyman Jagdeep Singh Deo and later to Sri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer during a special party meeting here yesterday.
However, both rejected the offer, as they preferred to remain in legal practice.

Bagan Dalam assemblyman A. Tanasekharan, who is also a lawyer, was then sounded out but he was non-committal, saying it was the chief minister's prerogative to appoint anyone.
Tanasekharan, however, denied that Guan Eng offered the post directly to him.
“Other assemblymen asked me whether I was interested and I told them that I will abide by whatever decision the party makes.”

The post was subsequently given to another leader of the party.
Social activist and Berapit assemblyman Lydia Ong Kok Fooi is among seven DAP assemblymen who will be sworn in as state executive councillors today.

The others are deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy (Prai), lawyer Wong Hon Wai (Air Itam), businessman Phee Boon Poh (Sungai Puyu), full-time politicians Chow Kon Yeow (Padang Kota), Lim Hock Seng (Bagan Jermal) and Danny Law Heng Kiang (Batu Lancang)
The three PKR assemblymen who will join the state exco are Deputy Chief Minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, full-time politicians Abdul Malik Abdul Kassim (Batu Maung) and Law Choo Kiang (Bukit Tambun).

Nine of them, except for Hock Seng, were present at the swearing-in rehearsal held at Dewan Sri Pinang yesterday.
Party insiders said Dr Ramasamy's portfolio would include Science, Technology, Innovation, Research and Human Resources.
Sources also said PKR's Abdul Malik would handle the portfolio that include Trade and Consumer Affairs while his counterpart Choo Kiang, would head the portfolio that includes Agriculture and Agro-based Industries.