Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin said Faizal will be replaced by Labu assemblyman Hanifah Abu Baker, who won the seat for the first time in the state elections last August.

Meanwhile, Hulu Kelang assemblyman Azmin Ali has been appointed as the Selangor Bersatu chief, replacing Selat Klang assemblyman Abdul Rashid Asari.

Azmin, a former PKR deputy president, is also the Perikatan Nasional (PN) information chief.

Faizal, a former Perak menteri besar, replaced former Kuala Pilah MP Eddin Syazlee Shith as the state Bersatu chief in June last year as the party was gearing up for the polls.

However, Faizal had come under pressure to relinquish the post, particularly from Negeri Sembilan PAS chief Rafiei Mustapha, following Bersatu’s disastrous performance in the state elections.

Rafiei, who is Faizal’s deputy in the state PN leadership, had accused the Bersatu deputy president of displaying no interest in leading the state chapter. He also questioned Faizal’s leadership qualities during the election campaign.

Eddin, a Bersatu Supreme Council member, later called for Faizal to be replaced by either Hanifah or Jelebu Bersatu chief Rais Yatim, who had served as Negeri Sembilan menteri besar between 1978 and 1982.

A slew of appointments to the party’s Supreme Council were also announced today.

They are Padang Serai MP Azman Nasrudin, Taman Medan assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin, and former Tualang Sekah assemblyman Nolee Ashilin Radzi.

Meanwhile, Hamzah said former education minister Radzi Jidin would lead Bersatu’s economy bureau, while former foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah will head its international bureau.

He added that Azman and Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan will also lead the education and training bureaus, respectively.

Hamzah also said that Fadzillah Pilus is the new chairman of Bersatu’s disciplinary board.