KOTA Tampan assemblyman Saarani Mohamad was sworn in as the 14th Perak menteri besar for the new term, before the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah at 5.40pm.

Saarani, 61, received the letter of appointment from Sultan Nazrin before taking the oath in a ceremony held at Istana Iskandariah.

He then signed the letter of appointment witnessed by Ipoh High Court judge Abdul Wahab Mohamed.

Also present at the ceremony were the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa and Raja Dihilir Perak, Raja Iskandar Dzulkarnain Sultan Idris Shah.

Sultan Nazrin consented to Saarani’s appointment based on article 16, clause 2(a) of the Constitution of Perak after the Kota Tampan assemblyman had gained the majority support of state assemblymen.

The appointment of the Perak Umno liaison chairman as the menteri besar was agreed upon by Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) after the two coalitions agreed to work together to form the state government.

In the 15th general election, Perikatan Nasional won 26 seats while PH and BN won 24 and nine seats respectively. – Bernama, November 21, 2022.