Ex-Umno rep to be in exco?

IPOH: Sungai Manik assemblyman Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharudin, formerly of Umno, will likely get a place in the Perak state exco line-up.

This is despite Perak PKR information chief Siti Aishah Shaik Ismail’s remark that while former Barisan Nasional members were welcome to join Pakatan Harapan, they should not expect political appointments.

She said exception was given to Zainol Fadzi as he – along with Tualang Sekah assemblyman Nolee Ashilin, also formerly of Umno – had helped to support Pakatan to form the state government.

She said one of the exco seats would be allocated to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and Zainol Fadzi had been tipped for it.

“We at Pakatan Harapan will discuss the matter,” she told reporters here yesterday.

Asked if Nolee would also be considered for the state exco, Siti Aishah said: “To see the bigger scope, it will most likely be one that won’t see us as a ‘family-dominated’ state government.

“From there, I think it’s pretty clear who will get a seat in the exco line-up.”

Nolee is the sister-in-law of Perak Mentri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu, who is married to her sister Dr Nomee Ashilin.

Both assemblymen, said Siti Aishah, were former state exco members with experience.

During the press conference, she also read out a statement from Ahmad Faizal, saying that former Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi’s application to join Pribumi had been rejected without negotiation.

In 2009, Jamaluddin, along with former Changkat Jering assemblyman Osman Jailu and Jelapang assemblyman Datuk Hee Yit Foong, had become Barisan Nasional-friendly Independents, causing the collapse of the then Pakatan Rakyat state government.

Meanwhile, Nolee said she decided to support Ahmad Faizal so that a state government could be formed.

“It needed to be done to ensure the rakyat has a government. The decision was made based on this fact alone.

“I made it clear to Ahmad Faizal that I’m not interested in any post. None was offered by him or Pakatan,” she said, adding she also had no intention of joining Pribumi and would remain Independent.