Johari acknowledged receipt of Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) letter notifying him of Hamzah’s resignation but said the post would be held by the former Bersatu deputy president until the lower house receives a formal resignation letter from him.

“The one relinquishing the post is Hamzah, not the PN chairman. Therefore, I need to wait for his official letter.

“Only after the letter is received will I consider his position in the Dewan Rakyat,” Johari was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia.

Hamzah’s resignation as opposition leader was confirmed on April 12 by PN chairman Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar. It came about two months after Hamzah was expelled from Bersatu.

Samsuri said he had instructed the coalition’s secretary-general, Takiyuddin Hassan, to prepare and submit a notification letter on the vacancy of the opposition leader’s post.

Hamzah, the Larut MP, is expected to announce his new political “home” next month, a “very strong” party which he says will have hundreds of thousands of members.

He said he could not reveal the party’s details as its official name has yet to be finalised, and that discussions are ongoing with the Registrar of Societies to ensure all procedures are followed before any announcement is made.

PN is expected to name its new opposition leader before the next Dewan Rakyat meeting in June.

PAS said PN’s component parties had agreed to the party taking over the opposition leader’s role.