PENANG, 28 April 2009: The dropping of Dr Mansor Othman, the Penang Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)’s deputy liaison committee chairperson, as a state nominee to the Dewan Negara was made on the request of PKR’s president, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the PKR leader sent a letter to him to drop Mansor and replace him with the state liaison secretary, Mustafa Kamal Mohd Yusoff, who is also the PKR state election director.
“No reason was given in the letter but I know why,” he said with a smile at a news conference at Fort Cornwallis here today.
While most observers believe Mansor has been picked as the PKR candidate for the Penanti state seat, Lim however would not confirm it and asked reporters to be patient for an announcement by PKR advisor, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at Yayasan Aman tonight.
The seat fell vacant following the resignation of Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin on 16 April. Yesterday the Election Commission fixed 23 May as nomination day and 31 May as polling day.
On 21 March, Lim announced the resignation of Mohammad Fairus as Deputy Chief Minister I and state executive councillor.
On the a replacement as DCM I, Lim said he left it to Anwar. — Bernama
