KUALA LUMPUR: A PAS MP will replace Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin as Opposition Leader, the Perikatan Nasional supreme council decided on Saturday (March 14).
The name of the PAS MP would be announced before the end of March, after which Parliament will be informed of the change.
Perikatan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said that Larut MP Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin would remain as Opposition Leader until PAS selects a replacement.
Ahmad Samsuri announced this after chairing his first supreme council meeting at Gerakan’s headquarters on Saturday morning.
He said Bersatu vice-president, Datuk Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin, had been appointed electoral director of the coalition, while Kedah Mentri Besar, Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, would now serve as treasurer.
PAS’s Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan has been appointed the secretary-general of Perikatan, and former Perikatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Azmin Ali was now the deputy to Takiyuddin.
“The meeting was attended by all members of the Perikatan Nasional supreme council, representing all component parties – Bersatu, PAS, Gerakan and MIPP.
“The main agenda of Saturday’s meeting was the selection and appointment of Perikatan party office-bearers, in accordance with Clauses 8.2 and 8.3 of the Perikatan Constitution.
“The appointment of Perikatan state liaison committee chairpersons has been postponed to the next meeting, following working visits that will be undertaken by the Perikatan chairman to all states after Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
“The meeting also decided that the position of Opposition Leader in the Malaysian Parliament will be held by a PAS MP, and the name will be announced before the end of March.
“The meeting also discussed preparations to face the Melaka state election, which is expected to be held in the near future,” said Ahmad Samsuri.
The meeting also appointed former communications and multimedia minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa as the coalition’s information chief.
This was the first supreme council meeting of the year and the first chaired by Ahmad Samsuri since his appointment as Perikatan chairman.
The meeting was seen as setting the direction for the opposition bloc on who will be Opposition Leader, a point of contention between Bersatu and PAS.
The matter arose after Bersatu deputy president Hamzah was expelled from the party on Feb 13 over allegations that he had sabotaged Muhyiddin and the party.
Hamzah, who has the backing of a majority of Bersatu MPs, has stated that he remains loyal to Perikatan.
