adminKUALA TERENGGANU: The mystery surrounding the status of the Opposition Leader position has finally been answered when Perikatan Nasional (PN) Chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar confirmed that Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin is no longer the holder of the position.
Ahmad Samsuri said that following the resignation, he had instructed PN Secretary-General, Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, to send an official letter informing the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat of the vacancy.
“I think the letter will be sent tomorrow (Monday) since today is a holiday. It involves informing about the vacancy of the position of Opposition Leader for the time being.
“When we send a letter stating that there is a vacancy, the position is automatically vacated. Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin is no longer the Leader of the Opposition,” he said through a video recording on social media on Sunday.
Commenting on the turmoil that arose previously, Ahmad Samsuri explained that the situation likely occurred because the position in question still had an incumbent.
However, he stressed that the coalition now has a specific strategy to move in the capacity of component parties since the Dewan Rakyat has not yet convened.
“We will have a new Opposition Leader by the Dewan Rakyat sitting this June,” he explained.
According to the Dewan Rakyat calendar, the second meeting of the fifth term of the 15th Parliament will convene from June 22 to July 16.
Meanwhile, when asked about Johor PAS’s demand that the position be given to a PAS leader since it was previously filled by a Bersatu representative, Ahmad Samsuri described it as a normal thing in politics.
“If we ask 10 people, there might be 10 different answers. It’s normal, each one has their own aspirations for leadership. Regardless, we listen to all views and will discuss them,” he added.
In another development, Ahmad Samsuri expressed PN’s support for the proposal to create a Political Funding Act which has been voiced since the beginning.
He, however, stressed that the government should hold an engagement session with all political parties, including those without representatives in Parliament, before the framework of the act is finalised.
“We are looking for the best, not to rush through time. We want it to be passed calmly when it is presented in Parliament.”
“This is to prevent it from suffering the same fate as the previous proposed act which was rejected at the Parliament level,” he said.
– Agency
