Ajax – h:commandLink actionlistener is not invoked when used with f:ajax and ui:repeat

h:commandLink actionlistener is not invoked when used with f:ajax and ui:repeat
When I click the link, I have to pass a parameter in the bean's "onload" method and refresh the panelgroup "assist". It works fine when I use the commandButton but not with commandLink.

<h:panelGroup id="assist" styleClass="tabbed-panel-vertical">
<ul id="assistlink" class="tabbed-panel-vertical-tabs">
    <ui:repeat var="assistants"
        value="#{permissions.repAssistants}">
        <li><h:commandLink 
                            actionListener="#{permissions.onload}"
            value="#{assistants.name}"
                styleClass="#{permissions.selectedAssistant==assistants.userId ? 'selected' : ''}">
                <f:ajax
                    render=":permissionsform:assist :permissionsform:permissionsContent"
                    execute="@this">
                    <f:attribute name="assistantId"
                        value="#{assistants.userId}" />
                </f:ajax>
            </h:commandLink></li>
    </ui:repeat>
</ul>

    `public void onload(ActionEvent event) {
    Long userId = Long.valueOf(541);// user.getUserId();
    Long assistantId = (Long) event.getComponent().getAttributes().get("assistantId");
    System.out.println("User " + assistantId); 
    }`