Hamzah steps down as Opposition Leader, PN to name successor

KUALA TERENGGANU – Uncertainty over the Opposition Leader post has been put to rest after Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar confirmed that Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin is no longer holding the position.

Samsuri said that following the resignation, he had instructed PN secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan to submit an official letter to inform the Dewan Rakyat Speaker of the vacancy.

“I believe the letter will be sent tomorrow (Monday), as today is a public holiday. It is to notify the vacancy of the Opposition Leader post for now.

“Once we submit the letter stating that the position is vacant, it will automatically be deemed vacant. Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin is no longer the Opposition Leader,” he said in a video recording shared on social media on Sunday.

Commenting on the earlier impasse, Samsuri explained that the situation likely arose because the position still had an incumbent at the time.

However, he stressed that the coalition now has its own strategy to move forward in its capacity as a component party, as the Dewan Rakyat is not currently in session.

“We will have a new Opposition Leader before the Dewan Rakyat sits in June,” he said.

According to the Dewan Rakyat calendar, the second meeting of the fifth session of the 15th Parliament will take place from June 22 to July 16.

Meanwhile, when asked about Pas Johor’s call for the position to be given to a Pas leader, given that it was previously held by a Bersatu representative, Samsuri described it as a normal occurrence in politics.

“If you ask 10 people, you may get 10 different answers. It is common, everyone has their own aspirations for leadership. In any case, we are listening to all views and will deliberate on the matter,” he added.

In a separate development, Samsuri reiterated PN’s support for the proposed Political Financing Act, which the coalition has advocated from the outset.

However, he emphasised that the government should conduct engagement sessions with all political parties, including those without parliamentary representation, before finalising the framework of the proposed law.

“We want to find the best approach, not rush against time. We want it to be tabled in Parliament and passed smoothly.

“This is to avoid it facing the same fate as previous proposals that were rejected at the parliamentary level,” he said.