Checks on the ministry’s staff directory confirm that Yahya, who was jailed for two years by the Court of Appeal in 2016, is Saifuddin’s political secretary.

Eight years ago, Yahya was convicted of cheating a businessman of RM50,000 which he had paid to sponsor an event. The transaction took place in 2008 when he was Khalid’s special officer.

Having completed the five-year prohibition from running for election, he contested the Permatang state seat in Selangor last year but lost to Perikatan Nasional’s Nurul Syazwani Noh, the daughter of former Tanjong Karang MP Noh Omar.

Yahya is also a member of PKR’s central leadership and the Tanjong Karang division chief.

Yahya takes over the post of political secretary from Johari Kassim, a member of the Penang PKR leadership and the head of the Jelutong PKR division.

Johari was made Saifuddin’s political secretary in January 2023 following the formation of the unity government.

He was also fielded in the state elections last August, contesting the Seberang Jaya seat in Penang which he lost to PN’s Izhar Shah Arif Shah.