Stulang rep Andrew Chen is new Johor Opposition chief

ISKANDAR PUTERI: Stulang assemblyman Andrew Chen Kah Eng (pic) is now the new Johor Opposition chief following the appointment of his predecessor Liew Ching Tong as a deputy minister.

Johor Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Salahuddin Ayub said that the coalition has agreed to appoint Chen as the new Opposition leader.

"I would like to congratulate Liew who was sworn in as the deputy minister for International Trade and Industry on Saturday (Dec 10).

"As such, I would like to announce that Chen will now be the new Johor opposition chief, after the matter has been agreed upon by Johor Pakatan.

"We would also like to thank Liew for his good track record all this while," he said in a press conference after the state assembly sitting here on Sunday (Dec 11).

He added that he was confident that Chen, who is the three-term Stulang assemblyman, would be able to play his role as the Opposition leader well.

“Chen started his political career in 2013 and is well-versed in economic and socioeconomic matters. He has also been bringing up important issues in his speeches during state assembly sittings,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chen said that he was grateful to Johor Pakatan for giving him the opportunity to be the Opposition leader for the Johor state assembly.

“This is the first time we have a unity government and its formation has opened up a new political landscape in Malaysia where political parties with different standing will now have to work together to administer the country.

“In this new political dynamic, the role of an Opposition chief will be challenging and would require the collaboration of all parties,” he said.