IMAGINE NO STATE GOVT FOR 21 DAYS, BUT PERLIS RULER STILL REFUSES TO BUDGE: UMNO-CONTROLLED STATE NOW A LAUGHING STOCK DUE TO ITS OWN CULTURE OF ‘AMPU’ POLITICS

KANGAR – The power struggle in Perlis is far from been resolved although the state Umno has agreed on one thing, which is to apologise to the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Syed Jamalullail, for causing an inconvenience.

But while they will apologise to the state Ruler, Perlis Umno liaison deputy chairperson Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin said that the party will reiterate that they want a mentri besar other than Datuk Seri Azlan Man (Bintong), who was sworn-in last week without the presence of the nine Barisan Nasional (BN) elected representatives.

“We will inform our beloved Ruler of the reasons why we insist on someone else other than Azlan. We do not have anything personal against Azlan but he acted unilaterally without consulting the party in Perlis since 2013.”

It is not politically correct to ignore the party which one is standing with as a candidate in the election, Zahidi said when contacted.

Furthermore, Azlan’s lack of cooperation almost caused Umno to lose its two thirds majority in the state legislative assembly.

BN through Umno and MCA won 10 out of the 15 state seats, as well as two out of the three parliament seats.

Perlis has been without a valid state government for the last 21 days.

Zahidi also stressed that the state Umno was not disrespecting the acting Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi over this issue.

But he stressed that this was a state matter, and the party should allow it to be resolved within the confines of the state.

“Nonetheless, we will be discussing with our acting president and we hope to reach a win-win situation soon. Also, we are hoping that the palace will grant us an audience with the state Ruler soon to find a way out of this imbroglio.”

His remarks come on the heels of a statement from Ahmad Zahid, who was quoted as saying the nine assemblypersons had agreed to apologise to the state Ruler and to pledge their loyalty to him.

Also, he reportedly said that the issue will be resolved and that the Perlis Umno liaison chairperson Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim does not have a say on this matter.

In another development, a group which was alleged to be part of an unidentified political party had lodged a police report in Kuala Perlis here today.

They chanted their loyalty to the state Ruler and had asked the palace to evict Shahidan from the state on grounds that he was disrespecting the royal institution.

A video clip of it was circulated on social media.

Last week, Shahidan who has since refrained from further comments, held a press conference seeking for Umno to sack Azlan for ignoring BN on this issue.

Azlan meanwhile has continued with his no comment stance.

– Sundaily