The appointment of PKR's Saifuddin Nasution as the Penang strategy adviser has been described as 'dedak' (animal feed) by PAS mouthpiece Harakah Daily.

In an editorial column posted on its website yesterday, the writer described the PKR secretary-general's appointment as DAP's way of tying down Saifuddin and his party to carry out DAP's bidding.

Saifuddin took his oath as Penang's strategy adviser on Tuesday and said that he would take the opportunity to strengthen Pakatan Harapan in the state.

"DAP is trying its best to ensure it appears tops in all aspects. Therefore, it is not surprising that Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has appointed Saifuddin as his strategy adviser.

"If the position was really important, it should have been created soon after the last general election. The fact that it was created as the next election is approaching and after LGE (Guan Eng) himself announced his successor shows that Saifuddin's role is not to benefit the rakyat, but the party (DAP)," the article says.

With his appointment, Saifuddin would play an arbitrator's role in ensuring DAP's role in the Harapan coalition, it added.

Saifuddin became PKR secretary-general in December last year, taking over from Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, who was convicted under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

Several quarters have pointed out that there could be a potential conflict of interest in Saifuddin's appointment, especially in any future negotiations between PKR and DAP on seat allocations for the next general election.

They questioned how a secretary-general of one party (Saifuddin-PKR) could be an adviser to another party's secretary-general (Lim-DAP).

However, Rafizi has dismissed such concerns, saying that Saifuddin's appointment was a positive sign that Harapan acknowledges there is more to be done in Penang to counter BN's racial political games.