KUALA LUMPUR – PKR’s Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Fahmi Zainol has taken to Twitter to share his apparent bemusement over a Muda leader seeking to initiate discussions on behalf of a party colleague regarding improvements to the constituency.
In a post yesterday, Fahmi, who is also Penang’s agrotechnology and food security executive councillor, attached a screenshot of a message dated August 31 from state Muda information chief Danial Abdul Majeed.
“Salam YB Fahmi. Would it be possible to request a meeting with (former Muda Pantai Jerejak candidate) Priyankaa Loh? I would like to ask her to help in Pantai Jerejak. If you’re okay, we can discuss further in a meeting,” Danial said in the message.
In his post on the matter, Fahmi pointed out that Loh had gone against him for the seat during last month’s state elections. The polls saw Fahmi winning the seat with 14,116 votes while Loh garnered 472.
While many Twitter users in the comments section called for Fahmi to ignore the request, Danial also defended himself while ostensibly chiding the PKR man, saying: “I’m sorry YB. My intention was good, but maybe my method was wrong.
“You are the Pantai Jerejak assemblyman and a state exco working for the Penang government and citizens. Or are you working for PKR?
“Even if you hate Muda, consider me a citizen of Penang. Or do you look at (which party) someone supports first before you help them?” Danial questioned.
In response to Danial’s comment, several users deemed the explanation as Danial’s attempt to “play victim” while others expressed their confusion over him being the apparent “middleman” between Fahmi and Loh.
“If she (Loh) wants to help, why can’t she do it herself? If she is incapable of doing so by herself, why did she contest as an assemblywoman? Or, does she want to learn? Then why not join PKR?” asked a Twitter user known as @Cashisnotkin1.
Another user, @aimanamir_cr7, said that Danial’s message and subsequent defence appeared “unprofessional,” saying: “You were the middleman, but then you used the excuse of being a Penangite to contact (Fahmi).”
“If you were voicing the people’s problems, that would be fine, but you’re trying to set a meeting for someone else. Sorry, for me, this is not professional.”
Meanwhile, Kota Anggerik assemblyman Najwan Halimi chimed in to advise his fellow PKR member against “wasting time” with Muda, recalling how the youth-based party had opted to put a candidate in the state seat despite being apparent allies.
“I used to ‘layan’ (entertain) them (Muda) in Shah Alam (on the basis of) respect and the spirit of friendship. When the elections came around, they put a candidate as our (PKR’s) opponent.”
Najwan secured the Kota Anggerik state seat with a 10,834 vote-majority over Perikatan Nasional candidate Mohamed Sukri Omar, who gained 27,636 votes, and Muda’s Azad Akhbar Khan, who lost his deposit after garnering only 2,631 votes.
The spat between Danial and Fahmi comes in the midst of Muda threatening to withdraw its support for the unity government following the discharge not amounting to an acquittal granted to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Barisan Nasional chief, in his graft trial.
Muda was also denied an invitation to attend DAP’s annual conference today, with the fledgling party’s secretary-general Amir Hariri Abdul Hadi confirming with Scoop that no party representatives were present at the event. – September 10, 2023