The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has appointed Penang PAS commissioner Salleh Man as president of the Penang Islamic Affairs Council (MAIPP).

Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman made the announcement today at the state government complex at Komtar.

NONE "Salleh ( left ), who is also Permatang Pasir assemblyperson, will begin his duties from today until Dec 31," Mansor, also Penanti assemblyperson, said.

This puts to rest months of speculation about the post, the position, which was supposed to have been given to PAS as part of Pakatan Rakyat's election pledge in 2008.

Also present with Mansor at the press conference were state executive councillor Abdul Malik Abul Kassim, MAIPP deputy president Makhtar Shafiee and its secretary Sazali Hussein.

“We hope that with this official announcement, the issue would no longer be politicised and manipulated by certain quarters,” said Mansor.

“I thank Abdul Malik who carried out the task before this official appointment. We hope he will continue to work with MAIPP for the sake of the welfare and interests of the ummah in Penang,” he added.

Salleh thanked the state government for giving him the opportunity to serve the Muslims in Penang.

“The job comes with a heavy responsibility but I will do my best to implement the mandate of the state government,” he said.

NONE “What is most important is the support from all sides including Abdul Malik ( right ). I need his help and the help of others in the state government so that we can work as team for the success of the Muslims here,” he added.

Abdul Malik, who also attended the press conference, said he would extend his full cooperation to Salleh and MAIPP to preserve the good name of Islam in the state.

The state government has been working to have Salleh named as MAIPP president since the tenure of the former council head expired on Jan 1.

Letter to the Agong

On Jan 20, the Penang government had submitted a letter to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the state's decision to acknowledge Salleh as president of MAIPP.

However, it was learnt then that the Agong had instead given his consent for Abdul Malik to be MAIPP president.

This caused a stir among Pakatan Rakyat's rivals, who said the coalition had pledged to make Salleh the president of MAIPP during the 2008 general election.

Even state PAS Youth secretary Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden said Abdul Malik should vacate the position while waiting for the Agong to appoint Salleh.

"This action is appropriate to show that the state government is responsible for the mistake that it had admitted to," Afnan Hamimi said in a statement.