PERLIS MB TO BE SWORN IN TODAY
Raja of Perlis decides on who will helm the state administration
AFTER two weeks of being in a limbo, the swearing-in ceremony for Perlis menteri besar will take place today. The Perlis State Secretary, in an invitation sent to the media yesterday, said the ceremony would be held at Balai Menghadap, Istana Arau, at 10.15am.
However, it was not revealed which one of the 10 Barisan Nasional leaders would be appointed for the post.
The swearing-in ceremony will end the menteri besar appointment saga, which has dragged on for 14 days after BN retained the state in the 14th General Election (GE14).
The coalition retained 10 of 15 state seats.
Pakatan Harapan won three seats, while Pas won two.
Although BN could have easily formed the state government, it took much longer than expected after Perlis BN chairman Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim named his brother, Datuk Ismail Kassim, for the post.
However, Perlis BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Azlan Man, who was the menteri besar for the previous term, claimed that he had no idea about Ismail’s nomination.
Following rumours over the matter, Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail said he needed time to get to know the candidates for the post and state executive council members submitted by BN.
On May 16, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin summoned all 10 BN assemblymen to have an audience with him.
Following that, BN acting chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was granted an audience with the Raja of Perlis to discuss the matter on Tuesday.
Following the meeting, Zahid said Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin would decide who would helm the menteri besar post.