Perlis Umno ex-chief takes Khaled's appointment in stride

Former Perlis Umno chief Shahidan Kassim said he would take Mohamed Khaled Nordin’s appointment as his successor with an open heart.

He said this is because the priority now is to ensure that the party remains united.

“There is nothing to gain by fighting. I need to be gracious in this matter.

“Although I had led (Perlis Umno) into winning the two-thirds majority in Perlis in the last general election, I have to abide by the party president’s decisions on the matter.

“Nevertheless, we will get the Umno president’s explanation on this,” he told Malaysiakiniwhen contacted today.

Last Saturday, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced Khaled as the new Perlis Umno chief, replacing Shahidan.

In a related development, Shahidan said Umno leaders in the state were very united although during the election despite the differences in opinion among them.

“Since Merdeka, we have maintained victories by two-thirds majority and Perlis is still a strong state (for Umno),” he said.

BN had won 10 out of 15 state assembly seats in Perlis during the 14th general election, allowing it to form the state government.

Nevertheless, a leadership crisis broke out in the state when Shahidan announced that BN would nominate Tambun Tulang assemblyperson Ismail Kassim - who is also Shahidan’s younger brother - as the new menteri besar to replace the Azlan Man.

He and nine other assemblypersons had held a press conference in Kuala Lumpur to oppose Azlan’s appointment and urged the Perlis palace to accept their majority decision to appoint Ismail. However, Perlis Raja Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail denied their request.

Nevertheless, the crisis subsided when the nine assemblypersons voiced their support for Azlan after initially boycotting his swearing-in ceremony. -Mkini