DAP thumbs up for Hadi Awang as new Opposition Leader
DAP members of parliament today voiced their support for the choice of Terengganu Menteri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang, known to be an Islamic firebrand, as the new Opposition Leader.
Party acting secretary-general Chong Eng said the party respected the convention that the Opposition Leader comes from the biggest opposition party.
"In 1990, when DAP had 10 MPs, PBS eight, PAS seven and Semangat 46 had six, PBS supported DAP's candidate based on the similar principle," Chong, who is MP for Bukit Mertajam, said in a statement distributed to the press in Parliament.
Yesterday, malaysiakini reported that Hadi had been nominated as the new opposition chief to replace the late PAS president and Pendang MP Fadzil Noor, who died last Sunday.
Party sources said the nomination was made during a PAS central working committee meeting held in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.
However, Chong call upon Hadi to be an Opposition Leader for all Malaysians.
"We hope the new Opposition Leader will perform his duty without fear and favour, representing all Malaysians irrespective of gender, race, colour, creed and religion," she added.
Hadi is widely considered as a more assertive leader of the Islamic party compared to the moderate Fadzil.
Under Hadi's leadership, the Terengganu government has come under fire recently for its intention to implement the controversial hudud law in the state.
The PAS leader had previously proposed that men and women be segregated in public areas, including supermarket queues, hair salons and swimming pools.
Official announcement soon
Meanwhile, it is learnt that Keadilan MPs also supported Hadi in taking the helm of the opposition.
However, there is scepticism whether Hadi can assume all his posts satisfactorily due to his heavy work commitment as Terengganu's menteri besar and as PAS acting president.
PAS secretary-general Nasharudin Mat Isa said the party would consult with parliamentary speaker Mohamed Zahir Ismail before making the announcement of the new Opposition Leader.
It is not known if Zahir will make the announcement tomorrow, the last day of this parliamentary sitting.
The current parliamentary session will adjourned tomorrow to September where members will meet to debate the budget.
On Monday, Zahir said it was up to the opposition parties to choose the new Opposition Leader from within their ranks.
The speaker added there is no time frame for an appointment to be made within this parliamentary session.
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