KUALA LUMPUR – The Perikatan Nasional (PN) supreme council has unanimously appointed Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali as the ruling alliance’s elections director.
The senior minister (finance and economics) is tasked with spearheading PN’s polls machinery in the leadup to the next general election.
The move appears to be a political boost for Azmin, a former PKR deputy president who was sacked from the party in February this year before he eventually joined Bersatu.
In a statement today, PN secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin also highlighted the council’s other decisions, such as the formation of state liaison bodies to coordinate party activities at the state level.
“In this case, the PN chairman will appoint the head of each state liaison body who will convene and chair the outfit’s meetings.
“The PN youth wing, led by Khairil Nizam Khiruddin, was also asked to boost activities at the grassroots level in order to strengthen bonds between party members,” he said in a statement on the meeting held yesterday.
In a separate statement today, PN expressed its support for Budget 2021, which was tabled by Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz in the Dewan Rakyat on November 6.
The statement, jointly signed by the heads of component parties, highlighted the importance of the RM322.5 billion Budget 2021 to counter the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The signatories were Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (Bersatu), Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (Pas), Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan (Star), and Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee (SPP).
PN's latest endorsement comes on the heels of an ultimatum by political ally Barisan Nasional (BN), which asked for its specific suggestions to be included in the budget for BN MPs to give their support.
“More than RM4.2 billion was allocated to reduce the people’s burden, more than RM4 billion to the frontline in the fight against Covid-19, and RM3 billion to generate 500,000 jobs.
“All these are the manifestations of the commitment and concern of the PN government in ensuring the welfare of the people regardless of race and religion.
“In this regard, it is appropriate for all parties to support the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's advice to prioritise the people in these trying times,” read the statement.
The Agong had on October 28 called on all parliamentarians to support Budget 2021, stating that it was critical for the sake of healthcare frontliners. – The Vibes, Nov 10, 2020
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