Sungai Buloh PAS chief Zaharudin Muhammad has voiced his support for Kemaman Member of Parliament Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar to be appointed as the new opposition leader. He believes this move would significantly improve the coordination of activities and debates within the Dewan Rakyat.
Zaharudin noted that coordination is essential as Ahmad Samsuri also serves as the Perikatan Nasional chairman. By holding both roles, he could help prevent the occurrence of conflicting positions among opposition members during parliamentary sessions.
The Sungai Buloh leader clarified that his recommendation specifically concerns the role of the opposition leader in Parliament, which he noted does not directly affect the administration of the government.
Preferences for national leadership
In a social media post today, Zaharudin distinguished between the parliamentary role and the potential candidacy for the prime ministership. He remains aligned with the view of spiritual leader Hashim Jasin that other senior party figures are more suitable for the top executive post.
He named deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, the Member of Parliament for Kubang Kerian, and vice-president Idris Ahmad, the Member of Parliament for Bagan Serai, as his preferred choices for the prime ministership.
Zaharudin, who is also the son-in-law of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, made these remarks following a statement by the current opposition leader. Larut Member of Parliament Hamzah Zainudin recently indicated a willingness to step down from the post if a majority of Perikatan Nasional lawmakers support such a transition.
Potential leadership transition
Comparing the current leadership with Ahmad Samsuri, Zaharudin argued that the Terengganu menteri besar is a superior choice for the role. He stressed that without strong coordination, the coalition might face situations where the party decides on one course of action while the opposition leader chooses another.
Beyond his primary choice, Zaharudin identified PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan as his second preference for the position. Ahmad Samsuri had previously stated that the coalition would announce a new opposition leader from PAS by the end of this month.
The leadership of the opposition has been a subject of discussion following the expulsion of Hamzah Zainudin from Bersatu on February 13, amid an internal leadership struggle. Last month, Takiyuddin confirmed that component parties within the coalition had agreed that a representative from PAS should take over the role.
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