Anwar urges an assembly vote to solve Perlis crisis

PKR leader says the BN assemblymen's boycott of the swearing-in ceremony was not proper and should have been avoided.

Anwar Ibrahim greets the congregation after Friday prayers at Masjid Cherok To’ Kun, Bukit Mertajam.

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Anwar Ibrahim, de facto leader of PKR, has urged Perlis assembly members to take a vote, through a confidence motion in the state assembly, to resolve the impasse over the appointment of the new menteri besar.

He says yesterday’s Barisan Nasional boycott of the swearing-in of Azlan Man for a second term was not proper and would not resolve anything.

The best way to gauge whether Azlan Man was suited to hold office was through a vote at the state assembly.

“Boycotting is not the right way. It should have been avoided,” he said after performing Friday prayers at his hometown mosque in Cherok To’ Kun here today.

Nine BN members were absent when Azlan, assemblyman for Bintong, took his oath of office at Istana Arau before the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail.

The ruler has voiced his displeasure with their absence. Only the remaining five state assemblymen from Pakatan Harapan and PAS attended the ceremony.

Perlis BN chairman Shahidan Kassim, also a former menteri besar, said in Kuala Lumpur yesterday that Azlan would be expelled from Umno. Saying he had sacrificed “body and soul” to ensure BN’s victory at the general election, Shahidan asked the Perlis ruler not to interfere in the state’s administration. - FMT