PETALING JAYA: Perikatan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar is the new Opposition Leader, the coalition’s supreme council decided on Saturday (May 16).
The Terengganu Mentri Besar replaces Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin who was stripped of the position after he was expelled from Bersatu on Feb 13.
In a statement, Perikatan secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the Perikatan supreme council met on Saturday to restructure the coalition's state chapters in preparation for the next general election.
“We have agreed to appoint Ahmad Samsuri, who is also the Kemaman MP, as the Opposition Leader (in the Dewan Rakyat).
“The meeting also agreed in principle to accept electoral cooperations or an electoral pact with certain parties aligned with the struggle and interests of Perikatan,” said Takiyuddin.
The statement also listed out the heads of state Perikatan chapters except for Negri Sembilan.
Among the heads appointed are former Perlis MB Datuk Seri Shaidan Kassin heads Perlis, Kedah MB Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor heads Kedah, Gerakan president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau (Penang), Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu (Perak), Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali (Selangor) and Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin heads the Federal Territories’ Perikatan.
The issue of who will be the Opposition Leader has been in the news after Hamzah, the then Bersatu deputy president, was expelled from his party.
The Dewan Rakyat will convene again next month.
