From:
Date: 10 Dec 1999
Time: 01:33:10
Fadzil: I am ready to carry out new duty
PAS president Datuk Fadzil Noor said he is ready to carry out the additional duty as the country's Opposition Leader.
He feels that being the party head, MP and assemblyman will not affect his performance.
Speaking to reporters after returning from a Barisan Alternatif meeting on Wednesday, he said he would fit in the post.
"I am new at this. However, I expect to get some encouragement and tips from friends who have been there before," he said in reference to former Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang.
On Wednesday, the opposition front met in Kuala Lumpur and nominated Fadzil for the job--the first Malay leader to be nominated for the post in more than 30 years.
Parti Keadilan Nasional president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail proposed Fadzil for the job while DAP chairman Lim seconded it.
"I may not have the experience but I think I can contribute to parliamentary democracy in an effective way," Fadzil said.
"The PAS central committee has also elected me for the post. The party will help in whatever way it can to make my work easier."
He thanked the other opposition party leaders for giving him their trust and understanding.
"I will be fair to all parties and perform my duty as required of an Opposition Leader to contribute to nation-building," he added.
Fadzil said the most urgent task was to get feedback from all parties in the opposition front and work on an action plan to enable Barisan Alternatif to be a formidable group in Parliament.
The move to nominate Fadzil for the post reflected PAS' new position as the most dominant opposition party.
In the Nov 29 general election, PAS won 27 seats while the DAP took 10 and Keadilan five.