Samsuri new PN chair, PAS to replace Hamzah as opposition leader
The Perikatan Nasional supreme council has appointed PAS vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as the coalition’s new chairperson.
A statement signed by PN component party presidents said the decision was made during the PN supreme council meeting held at PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.
“It is to be informed that the meeting has approved the resignation of Muhyiddin Yassin as PN chairperson, effective Jan 1.
“The meeting then proceeded to unanimously appoint Samsuri (above) as the PN chairperson, effective immediately.
“Other matters will be brought for discussion in the next PN supreme council meeting,” it said.
There had been pushback from other PN components about plans to propose Samsuri as coalition chief, including from Muhyiddin’s camp, arguing that the PN chairperson should be a party president.
PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, however, affirmed at the press conference after the meeting today that the coalition’s charter does not state who can be chairperson, meaning it is not limited to a president or deputy president.
Takiyuddin also revealed that no other candidates for PN chief were put forth during the meeting.
New opposition leader from PAS
On whether there was talk of setting up a “presidential council”, the Kota Bharu MP said such a body is already part of the PN constitution, but that there were suggestions to improve the charter to strengthen the coalition ahead of the next elections.
Previously, leaked letters between Muhyiddin and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang revealed that the Bersatu president had wanted a PN presidential council headed by Bersatu to be the coalition’s decision-making body, while the PN chairperson heads a committee that handles execution.
Hadi had rejected the idea.
Samsuri is in his second term as Terengganu menteri besar and was previously Hadi’s political secretary.
He is an aerospace engineer by training.
Takiyuddin also informed the press that the party will be taking over the post of parliamentary opposition leader.
However, a candidate has not yet been decided.
The position is held by Hamzah Zainudin, who was axed as Bersatu deputy president and booted from the party two weeks ago.
