Both Penang Bersatu reps rescind support for Harapan

Both Bersatu assemblypersons in Penang have rescinded their support for the Pakatan Harapan state government.

Bertam representative Khalid Mehtab Mohd Ishaq (photo above, left) and Teluk Bahang representative Zolkifli Md Lazim confirmed the matter with Malaysiakini this morning.

Asked why he had changed his previous stance, Khalid said he had to follow the “direction of the party” and was in support of party president and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

“I suppose I will be considered an opposition member after this [...]

“My stance is I am with the party, and I am with the president (Muhyiddin),” he said when contacted.

Zolkifli told Malaysiakini that he will also be following the party line, and noted how he had not been invited to attend any state functions since the movement control order (MCO) began.

“My party has really become the opposition in Penang,” he said.

During the Sheraton Move political crisis in February, the duo had met with Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow twice to pledge their support for Harapan.

At the time, Muhyiddin had taken Bersatu out of Harapan to form the Perikatan Nasional government with BN, PAS, GPS, PBS and STAR. 

Khalid was recently appointed as chairperson of the Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda), an agency under the Rural Development Ministry.

Zolkifli, meanwhile, has been appointed to the board of advisors for Mara Corp Sdn Bhd, the investment arm of Mara.

Their defection does not significantly affect the balance of power in Penang, with Harapan still commanding a supermajority of 35 seats in the 40-seat state legislature.

Meanwhile, Chow declined to comment when asked if the two Bersatu assemblypersons have joined the opposition bench.

It is learnt that the duo has not notified Penang State Assembly speaker Law Choo Kiang about their defection.

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