INTERVIEW | Mention the name "Ahmad Faizal Azumu" and those who know the man would immediately point out his laidback personality and good humour.

Nowadays, he has become a household name. Almost everyone, especially those who keep abreast of the nation's political developments, knows the 48-year-old by name.

On May 12, just a few days after the historic 14th general election, Faizal's life changed when he was sworn in as the new Perak menteri besar.

Four months later, Malaysiakini caught up with the Chenderiang assemblyperson, during which the Ipoh-born leader admitted that he is still warming up to the role of public life while trying to fulfil his obligations as best as he could.

"It isn't easy adjusting, and I empathise with our Defence Minister Mat Sabu (Mohamad Sabu) when he said he was having a hard time getting familiar with all the protocols. Protocols are not too foreign to me, but I am usually more laidback.

"At one time, I started to play with my handphone and began swinging my legs when on stage and I was told: 'YB, please stop swinging your legs'. So I stopped," he recalled with a laugh during the interview with Malaysiakini in Kuala Lumpur last week.

Even so, Faizal, who is also Tambun MP, stressed that that was just how he carries himself. However, when it comes to work, he gave his assurance that he takes his role very seriously, especially during Dewan Rakyat and state assembly sessions, and during meetings.

"People may say, 'he should be more serious' but look at me in the Dewan Rakyat, I am very serious."

Greatest achievement to date

Pakatan Harapan garnered 29 state seats in Perak in the 14th general election, while BN secured 27 and PAS, three. This resulted in a hung state as no side obtained a simple majority.

BN's initial attempt to form a state government with PAS did not succeed, but luck swung in Harapan's favour when two BN representatives decided to declare their support for Faizal, as the state Harapan chief, to lead the state as menteri besar.

Hence, it came as no surprise that when asked about his greatest achievement to date, Faizal declared it to be "forming the state government".

"(That we) succeeded in gathering enough support to form the state government and appoint a state executive council line-up to be presented to Sultan Nazrin Shah, and then ensuring that we worked as a team."

He added that the Perak government must still obtain the cooperation of government staff in the state and make improvements within state government-linked companies (GLCs). Even so, he clarified that all the civil service staff have, until now, cooperated with the new government.

"The BN government before also faced problems doing this, even though it ruled for quite a while. Imagine us, newbies," he said.

In June, Faizal fired seven executive officers of a state GLC who had been appointed by the previous administration. He had also said many GLCs in the state had too many employees, and that their services were not essential.

Despite this, he has been criticised for being too soft on BN political appointees, when he stated that he was in no rush to remove them from the GLCs "without first reviewing their capabilities".

Faizal also appointed former Umno leader Zainol Fadzi Paharudin (photo) as his advisor, with the rank of state exco member.

Zainol, the Sungai Manik assemblyperson, was one of the two BN assemblypersons who had declared his support for Faizal. He later left Umno and joined Bersatu.

To this, Faizal said he practises "compassionate politics" and not revenge.

He said: "We talk about New Malaysia, that we want to save the country ... We cannot punish others without reason, what more someone who had carried out his job well.

"Umno failed to carry out its role, so they (the former BN representatives) moved on to Harapan, and I believe they love the country, too."

'I sleep well at night'

For the record, Faizal is the only Bersatu assemblyperson in the state. DAP holds 18 seats, PKR, six, and Amanah, four. Yet, the compromise reached among the Harapan component parties saw Bersatu leading Perak.

Asked if this would mean that the other component parties dominate the decision-making in Perak, the menteri besar dismissed it.

He further denied that his position was ever threatened, despite previous speculation that a vote of no-confidence would be made against him.

"I sleep well every night and I can go to the office peacefully," he said with a smile.

"People think my weakness is that I hold the only one seat (for Bersatu). But Harapan is different from BN, in that we are all free to give our opinions," Faizal said, adding that all Harapan component parties get along well in the state government.

"This morning, we had no idea it would rain so heavily. Tomorrow, we have no idea how it will be, or if God will choose to take a life. So why worry? Today, we have the position, so we can only do what we can, honestly and sincerely," he said.

Tomorrow: Faizal's explanation on the 999-year land titles issue.