SUNGAI Dua assemblyman Datuk Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Noor has been retained as the Opposition Leader in the Penang State Legislative Assembly, says State Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang.
Law ruled out Perikatan Nasional’s proposal for Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq (PN-Bertam) to replace Muhamad Yusoff on grounds that Khaliq was one of the four Opposition assemblymen who were dismissed from the assembly yesterday.
Khaliq, together with Dr Afif Bahardin (PN-Seberang Jaya), Zulkifli Ibrahim (PN-Sungai Acheh), and Zolkifly Md Lazim (PN-Telok Bahang), had to leave the assembly yesterday after a motion was passed for them to vacate their seats under the state’s anti-hopping law.
According to Law, the State Legislative Assembly had received a letter from the Penang Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Datuk Dominic Lau on Feb 16 suggesting that Khaliq be named as the Opposition Leader.
“The letter says that Bertam (Khaliq) has received support from five assemblymen of PN to be chosen as the Opposition Leader.
“This has created confusion on the position of the Opposition Leader of the Penang State Legislative Assembly,” Law said after the oral question and answering session this morning.
Elaborating further, Law said that in accordance with the Article 4A(4) of the Penang State Constitution, the State Speaker has the right to decide on the matter.
He then announced that Muhamad Yusoff to stay on as the Opposition Leader since the State Legislative Assembly had passed the motion to vacate four seats, including the Bertam seat (held by Khaliq).
“So, with this, there should not be any more confusion regarding this matter.
“On top of that, as everyone knows the term for the State Legislative Assembly will end soon. And today will be the last day for the State Assembly sitting before it is dissolved in a few months for the state elections to be held.
“I would like to announce here that Muhamad Yusoff will remain as the Opposition Leader and there are no changes to that,” Law said.
Muhamad Yusoff, who is from Umno (a component of Barisan Nasional), has been the state Opposition Leader since 2018.
Because of BN’s alliance with Pakatan Harapan in the unity government at the federal level, Penang PN decided to propose Khaliq as the new Opposition Leader. However, this did not materialise as Khaliq himself has been removed as an assemblyman.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter