PAS man tipped to be Penang opposition leader

GEORGE TOWN: Penang PAS commissioner Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff and Penang Bersatu chairman Zulkefli Bakar have been discussed as potential candidates to become the state opposition leader.

Sources in Perikatan Nasional said Muhammad Fauzi, also a Sungai Dua assemblyman, should get the nod due to his seniority and experience in the local political scene.

Since 2015, the 52-year-old religious teacher has held the party’s top leadership position in Penang, replacing former Permatang Pasir assemblyman Datuk Salleh Man.

(From left) Muhammad Fauzi and Zulkefli Bakar

In the last state election, he beat Umno’s Datuk Shaikh Hussein Mydin with a majority of 5,509 votes.

As for Zulkefli, he replaced former Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahaya as the state Bersatu chief in 2020.

The 63-year-old former Umno member won in his maiden general election, defeating Pakatan Harapan’s candidate Rosidi Hussain with a 3,575 vote majority to secure the Penanti state seat.

Muhammad Fauzi said the Perikatan Nasional leadership had agreed on the new state opposition leader.

“A candidate has been chosen and agreed by the coalition’s state leadership. We have sent the name to the state speaker. It will be announced during the first state assembly sitting,” he said.

In the 15th General Election, Perikatan took 11 out of the 40 state seats in Penang.

PAS emerged as the biggest winner with seven seats in the bag. Besides Sungai Dua, it won Penaga, Pinang Tunggal, Permatang Berangan, Pulau Betong, Permatang Pasir and Sungai Bakap.The current ratio of 29:11 between Pakatan-Barisan and Perikatan replicates the state assembly composition in 2008.

Then, it was 29 Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen against 11 Umno assemblymen.

Meanwhile, State Assembly Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang said more than 700 questions had been received from elected representatives for the upcoming state assembly.

The state assembly will start on Friday with an official opening ceremony at the Penang Governor’s official address.

On Monday, there will be a debate on the Governor‘s speech until Nov 23. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow will table the 2024 state budget on Nov 24, followed by a debate starting Nov 27.