Penang PKR has appointed Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Bakhtiar Wan Chik as state chief after a meeting chaired by Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar today.

Bakhtiar replaces Nurul Izzah who has gone on a leave of absence, said the party in a statement issued in Penang this evening.

"Deputy Agriculture Minister Sim Tze Tzin has been appointed as the deputy chief, and Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Ahmad Zakiyuddin Rahman is the state's vice-chairperson.

"The state committee is committed to going forward with a team that is stable, dynamic and committed to the Reformasi agenda which will see to the meaningful welfare of the Penang people," the statement added.

The state committee also appointed Zulklifi Saad who remains as the secretary and Francis Joseph as the treasurer.

Last week, Malaysiakini reported that the leadership had shortlisted three candidates for the post, namely Bakhtiar, who is also Balik Pulau MP, Pinang Tunggal assemblyperson Ahmad Zakiyuddin and Batu Maung assemblyperson Abdul Halim Hussain. 

A reliable party source had said that Bakhtiar would most likely be appointed as the state chief due to his current status as deputy minister and MP.

Nurul was adamant about her resignation from all party posts although 13 PKR divisions wanted her to stay on as state chief. 

Last week there were rumblings in Penang that the state chief was yet to be appointed although the party's election ended two months ago.

Most vocal about the issue was Seberang Jaya assemblyperson Dr Afif Bahardin who said the state needed input from the party's leadership in Penang and any effort to develop the state will be affected by the delay in appointing the state chief.

On Dec 16, the PKR leadership declared Nurul Izzah, the party's president Anwar Ibrahim's eldest daughter, as the Penang PKR chief.

She also resigned as party vice-president and said she would no longer serve the government in any capacity.