Peja’s leadership abilities questioned after Hamzah deployed in Perak

Peja’s leadership abilities questioned after Hamzah deployed in Perak

PETALING JAYA: The leadership abilities of Perak Bersatu chief Ahmad Faizal Azumu have been questioned following reports that Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin was assigned to alleviate tensions in the state chapter.

Analyst Tawfiq Yaakub of Universiti Malaya (UM) said the claim by a Bersatu leader that party president Muhyiddin Yassin had specifically assigned Hamzah to manage the dispute over a seat-swapping request between two assemblymen highlighted Faizal’s weaknesses.

FMT reported yesterday that several assemblymen and division leaders were unhappy with Faizal for sending a letter to the state assembly requesting that Sungai Manik assemblyman Zainol Fadzi Paharudin swap seats with Changkat Jong assemblyman Nadziruddin Bandi.

The assemblymen and division leaders said they were not consulted on the move, which should have been discussed as it involved a major role in Perak.

Faizal, also known as Peja, said the request for a swap was made because Nadziruddin was recently promoted to Perak Bersatu secretary, a post which Zainol had relinquished.

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Speaking to FMT, Tawfiq said the situation in Perak was a repeat of what occurred in Negeri Sembilan when Faizal was the state’s Perikatan Nasional chairman.

Faizal, the then Bersatu deputy president, replaced Eddin Syazlee Shith in 2023, only to be dropped in January 2024, less than a year after taking over the post, after PAS pushed for his ouster.

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“We are now witnessing a similar rebellion among Bersatu assemblymen in Perak, and his (Faizal’s) credibility is being questioned to the point that Hamzah has been assigned to deal with it.

“Maybe Faizal should be suspended as the Perak Bersatu chief,” Tawfiq told FMT, adding that the issue did not augur well for the party in view of the Ayer Kuning by-election this Saturday.

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Azmi Hassan, a fellow at the National Council of Professors, said Faizal’s image would take a hit from the controversy.

He said the fact that Hamzah had been called in to resolve the matter proved that Faizal’s leadership was problematic.

“Little by little, Faizal’s influence is waning. First, he was forced to make way for Hamzah to be made deputy president, and now this,” he said.

He was referring to reports that Muhyiddin had “leaked” the candidates’ list for the party polls, in which Faizal would step down as deputy president and run for one of the three vice-presidents’ posts instead.

Abdul Muqit Muhammad, also of UM, agreed.

He said Faizal lacked the necessary charisma to be a state chief and was only seen as an “entertainer” in politics.