Mat Sabu appointed new Penang chief

(The Star) – PAS has appointed its deputy president Mohamad Sabu as the new Penang commissioner after delegates scrutinised the party’s role in managing the state at the PAS muktamar last month.

Speaking to reporters at the party’s headquarters here, secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali however denied that this had anything to do with the delegates’ criticism, saying that the party was merely “restructuring” the organisation.

“Besides, Mat Sabu is Penang-born and he is very familiar with the state. We feel his appointment will assist our work there, especially he is our party deputy president,” he said on Tuesday.

“With his position, he can play a significant role relating to the context of our relationship with other Pakatan Rakyat members and to organise our party machinery,” he added.

Mustafa also denied that the previous Penang commissioner, Datuk Mohd Salleh Manwas “kicked out”, in light of the Penang PAS’ feud with DAP over its alleged “interference” in Islamic affairs and in the appointments to state agencies and village development and security committees.

“Booted out is not the right world. This kind of change is usual in any organisation and (whatever brought out in the muktamar) was not a big issue,” he said.

Mat Sabu’s appointment was in addition to the new party commissioner’s line-up that was announced early this month.

Earlier, Mohamad announced that the party has appointed a new treasurer, Asmuni Awi to replace Datuk Mohd Yaakob, because of the latter’s duty as Kelantan Mentri Besar was “overwhelming”.

He however remains as the state commissioner.