PPBM, PAS leaders seek coalition solution to Perak impasse

 

PPBM president Muhyiddin Yassin and PAS chief Abdul Hadi Awang are engaged in a meeting to discuss the Perak crisis. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: As fissures appear to be showing in Umno’s relationship with its allies PPBM and PAS, senior leaders of the two parties are continuing discussions to resolve the Perak political impasse at the Perikatan Nasional (PN) level.

PPBM president Muhyiddin Yassin, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and other senior leaders are to look into ways to solve the crisis at the PN level.

According to PPBM information chief Wan Saiful Jan, PPBM leaders “have decided to refer to the PN leadership for further action. So, we will look at the latest developments and discuss with our coalition partners first,” he told FMT today.

He said party secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin had stated that the party “will continue to monitor the situation and we will issue a statement when necessary after consulting our PN partners”.

On Friday, Perak menteri besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu, who is PPBM deputy president, lost a confidence vote in the state assembly by 48 votes to 10, with one abstention. The motion had been brought by an Umno member.

In recent days, Umno leaders have voiced the possibility of linking up with Pakatan Harapan (PH) for majority support in the 59-member Perak state assembly. Umno holds 25 seats, five short of a majority. PH holds 24 through the DAP (16), Amanah (5) and PKR (3).

However, PAS leaders have urged for PN to keep control of the Perak state government, and PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said last night he hoped the new state government “would not be dominated by the opposition. It should remain under PN. This should be protected and there should be consultation”.

Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said the party’s priority was to form a new state government with PAS, PPBM and other independent parties.

“There are other options but for me, they are not the priority. The leaders of all the parties involved will certainly make a decision which is best for the state, people and country,” he said in a tweet.

Earlier today, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had spoken about the possibility of forming a coalition with other parties, including those from PH, to form a new Perak government.

He said this move was necessary following statements by the PAS and PPBM secretaries-general regarding their parties’ cooperation with Umno.

Takiyuddin Hassan has said PAS would not take part in the formation of the new state government.

Hamzah, on the other hand, had expressed the party’s disappointment with Umno for colluding with the opposition in supporting a no-confidence vote against the menteri besar.

Following Zahid’s announcement, Perak PH leaders from DAP, Amanah and PKR had voiced their willingness to cooperate with Umno in forming a state government. - FMT