GEORGE TOWN: PKR assemblyman Fahmi Zainol has been removed, with immediate effect, as the state agrotechnology, food security and cooperative development committee chairman.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said Fahmi's service as a state executive councillor ends on Wednesday (March 4).
"I met him (Fahmi) this morning and he accepted the decision.
"I will propose Fahmi’s replacement to the Yang di-Pertua Negri this evening.
"Then my office will release the name of the person who will fill the post and replace Fahmi," he said at a press conference at his office in Komtar on Wednesday.
On Sunday (March 1), PKR secretary-general Fuziah Salleh said Fahmi was suspended with immediate effect after being charged in the Magistrate’s Court here with voluntarily causing hurt to his wife.
Last Friday (Feb 27), Fahmi, 35, claimed trial to a charge of voluntarily causing hurt to Nur Hidayah Abd Jabar, 35, at a house in Persiaran Pantai Jerejak 11, Bayan Lepas, at about 10pm on Feb 22.
Chow said Fahmi’s replacement will also be from PKR.
"If there are any changes to the portfolio, I will announce them when the new exco is sworn in later this week," he said.
When asked why similar action was not taken against Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mohamad Abdul Hamid, who is assisting an MACC investigation into alleged abuse of power involving the use of zakat funds to purchase land, Chow said both cases were different.
"There is a difference, as one is only at the investigation stage.
"Maybe the party (PKR) felt that, as he (Fahmi) has already been brought to court, the situation is different.
"We received a letter from Fuziah on Tuesday (March 3) regarding Fahmi's suspension, requesting that he be removed from his position as state exco," he said.
PKR deputy chairman Goh Choon Aik is tipped to take over Fahmi's role as chairman of the state agrotechnology, food security and cooperative development committee.
