NEWLY APPOINTED CHIEF MINISTER TO FOCUS ON STABILITY, RACIAL HARMONY

KUALA KANGSAR, Feb 6 (Bernama) -- Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, who was sworn in as
the new Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of the northern Perak state Friday, said
he would give priority to restoring political stability and enhancing racial
relations.

"I am confident that the people of Perak are matured and I can see that they
have the capability to deal with the situation," he said here.

Zambry, 47, the assemblyman for Pangkor, took his oath of office as the 11th
Menteri Besar before the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, at the Iskandariah
Palace here.

The economics, politics and Islamic thinking graduate said he was also
confident that the Perak people would want to see political stability because if
the uncertainty prolonged, it would be to the detriment of everyone.

Zambry, who is from Pangkor Island, Perak and a one-term executive council
member between 2004 and 2008, said he believed that the state administration and
the people would be able to weather the political situation "irrespective of its
intensity."

Asked on the refusal by the former Pakatan Rakyat (People's Alliance)
government to step down despite having been ordered by the Sultan of Perak,
Zambry said:

"I am confident that the opposition parties would be able to understand the
situation, including the provisions in the State Constitution that the sultan
has the power to appoint a Menteri besar or to dissolve the state legislative
assembly."

Zambry also said that he would adopt an open attitude and that he would
listen well "and do what I need to do" in running the state's administration.

He added that although he is now the Menteri Besar, "I'm still very much a
down-to-earth man entrusted with the heavy responsibility of heading the state's
administration."

Zambry became the Menteri Besar after Malaysia's coalition government
Barisan Nasional (National Front) or BN seized control of Perak which the
opposition alliance had ruled by a narrow margin, since the March 8 general
election last year.

Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak had said that the Perak
government had collapsed with the defection of four legislators.

The opposition had seized control of five states including Perak and a
third of national parliamentary seats in the March 8 general election.

On Thursday, the Sultan of Perak had commanded the opposition alliance to
surrender power after its narrow majority was snatched away by the defection of
the four legislators.

However, the opposition alliance has insisted it still controls Perak.
-- BERNAMA