THERE is discontent among Penang Bersatu and Amanah supporters after the parties did not make the cut for the state executive council that was sworn in yesterday.

State Amanah chief Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said the party, anticipating this at the grassroots level, had brought up the matter in state-level meetings.

“I argued that both our Amanah assemblymen won their seats with big majorities. We managed to beat PAS and Umno,” he told Malaysia Decides.

In the 14th general election, the PAS splinter fielded candidates in three state seats in Penang, and won two.

Faiz Fadzil won Permatang Pasir, previously held by PAS, with a majority of 2,981 votes. Azrul Mahathir Aziz, meanwhile, won Bayan Lepas by 5,245 votes. The other seat the party stood in was Sungai Dua.

In comparison, its Pakatan Harapan partners, DAP and PKR, secured 19 and 14 seats, respectively.

Yesterday, Penang swore in its 10 excos – seven from DAP and three from PKR – excluding Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow from DAP.

Commenting on the line-up, an Amanah supporter said it is as if Penang belonged only to DAP and PKR, and not the whole PH pact.

“In Kedah, DAP won only two seats, but it has a rep who was made state exco.”

The Bersatu-led PH government in Kedah controls 18 out of 36 state seats, with PKR winning seven, Bersatu (5), Amanah (4) and DAP (2).

The new administration, led by Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir, agreed to appoint to the state executive council four reps from PKR, Amanah (3), Bersatu (2) and DAP (1).

Asked about Penang’s line-up, Faiz said: “Ask the leadership. I don’t know anything.”

He was present at the swearing-in ceremony held at Dewan Sri Pinang in George Town, and was seen to be in good spirits, shaking hands and mingling with his PH colleagues and other attendees.

Bersatu’s Teluk Bahang rep, Zolkifly Md Lazim, is taking the exco appointments positively.

“There are many more important positions to be filled in Penang. We can play our role without having to be appointed as excos.”

Asked about the lack of Bersatu and Amanah assemblymen in the line-up, Chow said the state decided to maintain the status quo.

He said the new line-up is Penang’s strongest, and will ensure the state’s ability to fulfil PH’s 68 election pledges. – May 17, 2018.