PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) has named Bertam assemblyman Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq as the new opposition leader in the Penang assembly.

PN deputy chairman, Dr Dominic Lau Hoe Chai, said the proposal was agreed upon by all PN assemblymen, and Penang assembly Speaker Law Choo Kiang has been informed of the matter.

“We are confident that with this appointment, PN will act as an authoritative opposition to bring the voice of the people of Penang,” he said in a statement today.

Lau, who is also Penang PN chairman, said the state government had sent a notice of motion to vacate seats for the four state constituencies represented by PN, namely Bertam, Teluk Bahang, Sungai Acheh and Seberang Jaya.

He added that the motion was related to the anti-party hopping law in the state, which is expected to be debated on March 6 at the state assembly.

Lau said the Bertam assemblyman had sent a motion to state assembly on February 20, to amend article 14A clause 1 of the Penang Constitution, to be consistent with the Anti-Parti Hopping Act (Act A1663), which was approved in parliament last year.

He said the major contradiction in the law is on the dismissal of a member of the assembly because, based on the law, a parliamentarian will not lose his seat if the representative is dismissed from his party or if his political party is dissolved or deregistered.

“We are of the view Penang should not be seen as contradicting and contrary to the Federal Constitution, which is the highest law of the land. However, the speaker has rejected this motion,” he said.

Article 14A of the Penang Constitution states that an assemblyman should vacate his seat if he resigns, is stripped of his membership, ceases to be a politician or is chosen as a candidate by another political party. – Bernama, March 3, 2023.