PETALING JAYA: Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin has been tasked with alleviating tensions in Perak Bersatu after a seat-swapping request in the state assembly, perceived as part of a power struggle for the role of acting opposition leader.
A Bersatu leader said several assemblymen and division leaders were unhappy with state chief Ahmad Faizal Azumu for sending a letter to the state assembly requesting that Sungai Manik assemblyman Zainol Fadzi Paharudin swap seats with Changkat Jong assemblyman Nadziruddin Bandi.
The assemblymen and division leaders said they were not consulted on the move, which should have been discussed as it involved a major role in Perak.
The Bersatu leader said party president Muhyiddin Yassin had specifically assigned his deputy, Hamzah, to manage the dispute.
“Muhyiddin has asked Hamzah to look into the problem,” the leader told FMT.
Faizal, also known as Peja, said the request for a swap was made because Nadziruddin was recently promoted to Perak Bersatu secretary, a post which Zainol had relinquished.
However, several Bersatu divisions saw this as allowing Nadziruddin to take over Zainol’s role as acting opposition leader, following the six-month suspension of PAS’s Razman Zakaria.
Zainol is seated next to Razman in the legislative assembly.
The request was rejected by assembly speaker Zahir Abdul Khalid, although he agreed to move Nadziruddin to the front row, placing him two seats away from Zainol.
Caught by surprise
Ipoh Timur Bersatu chief Fadhli Ismail said he and other division leaders were caught by surprise when they found out about Faizal’s letter, which he said was sent unilaterally.
Fadhli said Zainol should remain the acting opposition leader in Razman’s absence given his seniority in the party and as an assemblyman.
Zainol, a four-term assemblyman, served on the state executive council for three terms and is also a Bersatu Supreme Council member.
On the other hand, Nadziruddin is a first-term assemblyman who was only recently appointed as Perak Bersatu secretary.
Kuala Sepetang assemblyman Ahmad Man said neither Perak Bersatu nor Perikatan Nasional had called a meeting to discuss the move for the two to swap seats.
“This is a state assembly matter, not just a party issue,” he said, adding that PAS assemblymen were also initially in the dark about the proposed seat change.
Another division chief who declined to be named said party decisions involving leadership roles must be communicated clearly and discussed beforehand.
