Nine Perak state assemblymen today took their oaths of office as members of the State Executive Council at Istana Iskandariah, Bukit Chandan here.

The swearing-in ceremony and the pledge of loyalty as well as the oath of secrecy were carried out before the Regent of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah.

Six of those appointed as State Executive Council members were new faces while the other three were reappointed members.

The new faces were Datuk Rusnah Kassim (Behrang), Datuk Samsudin Abu Hassan (Ayer Kuning), Mohd Nizar Zakaria (Belanja), Nolee Ashilin Mohd Radzi (Tualang Sekah), Dr Muhammad Amin Zakaria (Batu Kurau) and Datuk Shahrul Zaman Yahya (Rungkup).

The three old faces who were reappointed were Datuk Saarani Mohamad (Kota Tampan), Datuk Mohd Zahir Abdul Khalid (Kamunting) and Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharuddin (Sungai Manik).

In the 13th general election, the Perak Barisan Nasional formed the government with a simple majority after winning 31 of the 59 State Legislative Assembly seats contested.

The swearing-in ceremony was also attended by the Raja Puan Besar of Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim, the Raja Dihilir of Perak, Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa, the Raja Puan Muda of Perak, Raja Nor Mahani Raja Shahar Shah, the Mufti of Perak, Datuk Seri Harussani Zakaria, State Assemblymen, and heads of government departments and agencies.