Perlis Umno to send names for MB post

Zahidi: Some party members not happy that Azlan is state leader

KANGAR: In yet another twist to the Perlis political saga, the state Umno will submit several names for the mentri besar post to the Raja of Perlis.

Padang Besar Umno division head and state Barisan Nasional secretary Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin said the names of several assemblymen would be submitted to Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail tomorrow.

“It will also include my name and Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, although both of us are MPs,” said Zahidi yesterday.

Asked why the names were being submitted now when Umno vicepresident Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said the nine assemblymen had accepted Datuk Seri Azlan Man as the mentri besar, Zahidi claimed that some members were still not happy.

“We are going ahead with our proposal as there is nothing to bar MPs from becoming the mentri besar.

“Maybe Tuanku doesn’t want Tambun Tulang assemblyman Datuk Ismail Kassim, but he has other assemblymen to choose from,” he added.

Zahidi is Padang Besar MP, while Shahidan is Arau MP.

Zahidi also said he would write tomorrow to seek an audience with the Raja of Perlis to ask for forgiveness.

On Tuesday, Dr Ahmad Zahid had said that the crisis was solved and the nine assemblymen would apologise to Tuanku and support Azlan as the mentri besar.

Dr Ahmad Zahid added that Shahidan did not have a say in the issue as he was not an assemblyman.

The political crisis, which is running into its seventh day, has seen no official events being held to outline the plans of the new state government.

A check yesterday found that Azlan was neither at the Mentri Besar’s office at the state assembly building nor at his residence in Jalan Tun Abdul Razak.

Several assemblymen have been attending events at their constituencies, but there have not been any official state functions or buka puasa events so far.

The political turmoil in Perlis began on May 24 when nine assemblymen aligned to Shahidan boycotted Azlan’s swearingin ceremony.

Their action incensed the Raja of Perlis, who said he did not want Ismail as the mentri besar because he would be a puppet in the hands of others.

However, Shahidan said Ismail had the support of the nine and that Azlan should be sacked by Umno for accepting the post.