‘Exco member is still trying to oust MB’

Saarani claims rep is continuing plan to pass a vote of no confidence against Ahmad Faizal

IPOH: Despite the mentri besar dismissing talk of any “coup” against him, Perak opposition leader Datuk Saarani Mohamad (pic) remains adamant that there are moves to oust him.

Saarani claimed that a certain state executive councillor was still continuing with his effort to oust Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

“We thought that with the issue now widely reported in the media, the exco member would stop. But he is still at it.

“Trust me, he is still trying hard with his plan to pass a vote of no confidence (against the mentri besar) in the state assembly,” Saarani told reporters after the state assembly sitting here yesterday.

On Wednesday, Ahmad Faizal insisted that he had a good working relationship with 10 of his state executive councillors, describing it as “one big happy family”.

The mentri besar was responding to claims that certain exco members had approached Umno assemblymen for support in an attempt to oust him as MB through a motion of no confidence in the state assembly.

On a police report by Pakatan Harapan secretariat chief and Batu Gajah MP V. Sivakumar on the alleged coup attempt, Saarani said the 24 Umno assemblymen and he were ready to provide all the information to the police if called up.

“Do not think that we are scared and that they can threaten me and my team by lodging a police report.

“We have all the evidence, facts and events leading to the state exco members meeting Umno assemblymen to support a vote of no confidence against the MB,” he added.

Sivakumar had said that those involved could face criminal prosecution, adding that it was an offence under Section 124 of the Penal Code to create incitement to topple a democratically-elected government.

Saarani said as a strong opposition, they would not stop talking as they had nothing to fear and only wanted the state to be administrated properly.

“We are not the ones creating chaos. Instead, the state exco members are divided among themselves,” he said.

Later, Ahmad Faizal advised Saarani to lodge reports with both the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission if indeed Umno assemblymen were being approached.

“It is pointless to give daily press conferences over the plot.

“Saarani should reveal names instead,” Ahmad Faizal told reporters after an MOU signing between the Perak State Development Corporation and Jimmy Couture Trend Sdn Bhd at his office.