Perikatan Nasional (PN) will submit a formal notification to the Dewan Rakyat speaker on the vacancy of the Opposition Leader post.
Its chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, said he had instructed secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan to submit the notice to Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
“Since today is an off day, it will be done tomorrow,” he told reporters after attending the Johor Pas Hari Raya open house in Bukit Pasir, Pagoh, today.
A clip of the press conference was uploaded to his Facebook page.
Samsuri was responding to questions on rumours that Larut member of Parliament Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, had submitted his resignation letter yesterday.
However, the Terengganu menteri besar neither confirmed nor denied the claim.
Instead, he said, once the notification of vacancy is submitted, it would indicate that Hamzah is no longer the opposition leader.
On the appointment of a new opposition leader, Samsuri said the post would be filled before the next Dewan Rakyat sitting in June.
On April 3, Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang the new opposition leader would be finalised following thorough discussions involving all opposition parties.
He added that there was sufficient time to reach a decision, as the Dewan Rakyat would not sit until June, with current priorities focused on resolving internal party matters and issues concerning PN.
On March 15, Hamzah said he is ready to step down from the post if the majority of MPs in the opposition bloc no longer wish for him to hold the post.
He said the position is dependent on the support of the majority within the opposition bloc and is not determined by any single party.
The former Bersatu deputy president, who was sacked from the party in February, said close cooperation among all opposition representatives is vital to ensuring that the check-and-balance function against the government remains effective.- NST
