Zainol Fadzi appointed as adviser to Perak MB

IPOH: Former Umno leader Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharuddin (pic) was appointed adviser to the Perak mentri besar because of his role in helping Pakatan Harapan form the state government.

A Pakatan source said component parties agreed to his appointment.

Zainol Fadzi, who is Sungai Manik assemblyman, and Tualang Sekah assemblyman Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohd Radzi, a former Umno stalwart, signed a declaration of support for Pakatan after GE14.

“That’s the main reason why he was appointed. Not all members agree to it but it was agreed upon by all state component parties.

“Pakatan members will just have to move forward. We’ll see how it pans out in the future,” he said.

Zainol Fadzi’s appointment has caused uproar among Pakatan grassroots.

They feel he did not contribute to Pakatan’s struggle and had called for his appointment to be retracted.

During GE14, Pakatan won 29 state seats while Barisan Nasional had 27 and PAS three.

While Zainol Fadzi has joined Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PBBM), Nolee Ashilin chose to remain as an independent assemblyman.

With his appointment, the source said Zainol Fadzi would enjoy all the benefits accorded to a state executive councillor but cannot attend exco meetings.

Mentri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu said the “huge” decision to appoint Zainol Fadzi had the consensus of all state Pakatan compo- nent party leaders.

Ahmad Faizal said he would meet members who disagreed with the decision to explain that the move favoured Pakatan and the state government.

“It is also to ensure the relationship between all component parties are maintained,” Ahmad Faizal said after meeting with 17 ambassadors and heads of diplomatic relation from the European Union here.

He added that Perak Ruler Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah had also consented to Zainol Fadzi’s appointment.