BARISAN Nasional’s Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Noor, the coalition most senior assemblyman in Penang, is likely to be appointed opposition leader.

There are only three opposition assemblyman in Pakatan Harapan ruled Penang, and Yusoff is the most senior of the two reps from BN’s Umno. 

“It has not been officially decided yet, but the opposition leader will likely be me.

“Let’s wait for the swearing-in at the state legislation next month,” he said today when met on the sidelines of a state briefing on the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) for assemblymen and MPs at Hotel Jen.

Yusoff, who is known for his good service on the ground, is serving his second-term as Sungai Dua assemblyman. 

He won the seat with a vote-majority of 1,934 against candidates from PKR and PAS.

The other BN rep, also from Umno, is first-time assemblyman Nor Hafizah Othman of Permatang Berangan while the third opposition rep is PAS’ Penaga assemblyman Yusni Mat Piah, who is also a first-timer.

BN suffered its worst thrashing in the 14th general election in May, losing all the  40 state seats it contested, except Sungai Dua and Permatang Berangan, which are both in the Tasek Gelugor parliamentary constituency.

In the 12th general election, BN managed to retain 11 state seats in the 2008 political tsunami. In the 13th general election, BN won 10.

It is anyone’s guess how well the trio from BN and PAS would be able to play their opposition role in the PH-dominated state legislation assembly, which begins on August 2 with the swearing-in of the members of the House.

The opposition leader will also be appointed chairman of the state’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), a pledge made by Penang PH in the run-up of the election to further empower the office of the opposition leader.

Meanwhile, on his presence at the PTMP briefing, Yusoff said the master plan was an important issue in the state.

It is rare for any BN rep to turn up for state government-organised events. In the past, BN reps hardly ever attended such events, despite being invited.

Yusoff, who asked several questions at the briefing, said the state did not answer how it would convince people to leave their cars at home and use the light rail transit (LRT).

“How will they get people to use the rail system? People may still use their cars and the roads will still end up congested,” he said.

He also said he thought it might be better to leave the LRT project to the private sector and let the operator hold the concession for a number of years.

“Let the private sector bear the cost. It is safer that way, instead of reclaiming land to pay for the project.

“Reclamations can have serious impact on the environment,” he said.

The PTMP – a comprehensive multi-billion plan to solve Penang’s worsening traffic problem through highways and integrated public transport – s to be funded by the Penang South Reclamation.

The reclamation will see three manmade islands reclaimed off the southern coast of Penang Island and then auctioned off to generate funds to implemented the components of the PTMP. – July 22, 2018.