Penang’s Fahmi Zainol is removed as state exco member after being charged with assault, with PKR’s Goh Choon Aik appointed as his replacement.
GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has announced the removal of Fahmi Zainol from the state executive council, effective immediately.
Chow stated he received an official request from PKR secretary-general Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh for the Pantai Jerejak assemblyman’s removal.
“I met Fahmi this morning, and he accepted the decision,” Chow told a press conference.
The chief minister said he would propose a replacement from the same party to the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Penang this afternoon.
Fahmi’s removal follows a decision by the PKR Central Leadership Council to suspend him from all party posts.
This action came after he was charged with voluntarily causing hurt to his wife in the Balik Pulau Magistrate’s Court.
Fahmi, 35, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail of RM2,000 with one surety.
He had been one of Penang’s youngest state executive councillors after taking his oath of office in August 2023.
Meanwhile, Chow confirmed that Tun Ramli Ngah Talib has consented to the appointment of Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik as the new exco member.
The appointment is made in line with Article 7 of the Penang State Constitution.
Goh’s appointment will take effect from the date of the presentation of the instruments of appointment this Friday.
The 52-year-old, who is also the state PKR Central Leadership Council chairman, has been the Bukit Tambun assemblyman since 2018.
