Mohammed Nizar Jamaluddin will remain as Perak opposition leader even though a PAS leader has asked for him to be replaced.

Nizar said it was a decision made by the state’s opposition assemblypersons and they had agreed that he leads them in the state assembly.

The Changkat Jering assemblyperson was responding to Ipoh Timur PAS Youth chief Salman Saleh who said the division’s Youth wing disagreed with DAP’s stance of retaining Nizar as state opposition leader.

Dismissing this, Nizar said there was no need to defend himself as it was merely Salman’s personal opinion.

“(It is) very much his personal opinion as a division youth chief,” he said.

Asked on the possible reason for Salman to come out with the statement, Nizar said the youth leader may have some “ulterior motives”.

“Or maybe there are others who are influencing him,” he said.

However, Nizaris not sure if Salman has anything personal against him as the two actually work well together.

Salman said yesterday Nizar’s position needed to be reviewed as he no longer holds a major position in PAS.

As PAS has five assemblypersons, the same number as PKR, Salman said the post must be given back to the DAP or PKR.

“If DAP wants the post to be retained by PAS, let the PAS leadership determine who is the most eligible for the post,” Salman had said.

Nizar has the majority support

Meanwhile, Perak DAP chairperson Nga Kor Ming pointed out that the law states the person who has the majority support shall be the head of the house or head of the opposition.

“Nizar has shown that he has the majority support among the opposition. As such, his position is official and beyond doubt.

“We support Nizar based on his performance and his integrity, not on the party basis,” the Taiping MP said.

Nga ( photo ) said the fact that PAS only has five assemblypersons was irrelevant, for he had even been informed that the five PKR assemblypersons also fully support Nizar.

“I believe all the 28 (opposition) assemblypersons will support Nizar as before, regardless of his position in PAS,” he said.

Nizar lost his Kampar PAS division chief post and also lost his central working committee post in the PAS muktamar early this month.

Nga, meanwhile, said the most important thing is for the state’s opposition to work hard to win the mandate of the people.

“This is in order to recapture Perak. This will be our main aim and other issues, for me, are not relevant,” he said.

Meanwhile, Perak PAS commissioner Razman Zakaria, when asked whether it was Perak PAS’ stance that Nizar be replaced said that there had been no discussion on the matter.

"It may be his (Salman's) personal opinion," Razman said.

Additional reporting by ZIKRI KAMARULZAMAN.