Ahmad Faizal Azumu, also known as Peja, said the request was made based on the promotion of Changkat Jong assemblyman Nadziruddin Bandi to Perak Bersatu secretary after Sungai Manik assemblyman Zainol Fadzi Paharudin stepped down from the post.

He said the request was rejected by the assembly speaker, Zahir Abdul Khalid.

“I want to make it clear that there is nothing unusual in this seat-swapping request. Zainol had resigned as the secretary and was replaced by Nadziruddin, who is now holding a more senior post in the party.

“A seat swap is what we usually do in the legislative assembly (following such a change),” he said during a ceramah for the Ayer Kuning by-election at Kampung Tanjung Keramat last night.

It was reported that Zainol was sitting next to state opposition leader Razman Zakaria before the request.

Faizal, who is also Perak Perikatan Nasional chief, said he is on friendly terms with all of the coalition’s elected representatives, including Zainol.

“Zainol and I have been friends for a long time and we will continue to work together to ensure that Bersatu and PN can stage a comeback in the next (general) election,” he said.