INTERVIEW | Gerakan Youth deputy chief Andy Yong is not unused to people telling him to quit BN for the opposition.

Known as something of a maverick within the ruling coalition, Yong has often expressed opinions that run counter to the BN narrative.

Among them is his call for Umno to tone down their racial rhetoric, for the Home Ministry to review its ban on a book by G25, as well as his criticism of BN parliamentarian Hasan Arifin who dismissed restoring English as a medium of instruction in schools.

In an interview with Malaysiakini, Yong even revealed that the BN leadership was unhappy with him for not informing them of the suit he filed against the Kelantan government to challenge planned amendments to Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355).

Despite that, BN has chosen Yong as its candidate for the Penang parliamentary seat of Bukit Bendera, where he has been based since October last year.