Lawyers: Hold fresh polls to solve Perlis dilemma

Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla says Menteri Besar Azlan Man could resign and advise the Raja of Perlis to dissolve the assembly.

Menteri Besar Azlan Man (second from right) with Perlis Raja Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail (right) and other state representatives. Lawyers have advised Azlan to step down and allow the voters to decide again.

PETALING JAYA: Lawyers have advised holding a fresh state election in Perlis to solve the political dilemma which came to a head after nine Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen ditched Menteri Besar Azlan Man yesterday.

They said it was unlikely that Azlan could form an executive council of at least four members as there were no BN assemblymen left to lend him support.

BN had won 10 seats in the May 9 election, while Pakatan Harapan (PH) won three and PAS two.

Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla said Azlan, who was sacked by Umno yesterday, could tender his resignation and advise the Raja of Perlis to dissolve the 15-man legislature out of necessity.

“Under the present bizarre circumstances, it is best for the ruler to dissolve the house and let the voters decide again through the ballot box,” he told FMT.

He said the Election Commission could then take notice of the ruler’s proclamation and begin preparations for the polls.

Azlan, who is Bintong assemblyman, took his oath of office for a second term as menteri besar before Perlis Raja Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail yesterday.

Only assemblymen from PH and PAS were present, as the nine BN representatives were said to be in Kuala Lumpur.

The BN assemblymen reportedly favour Ismail Kassim, the brother of former menteri besar Shahidan Kassim, as the new menteri besar candidate.

However, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin had said he did not want to appoint a menteri besar who was controlled by external forces.

Lawyer R Kengadharan said Azlan, who now formed a one-man executive government, would have to convene a state legislature meeting knowing he could be defeated in a vote of no confidence.

“He could then advise the ruler to call for a fresh election,” he said, adding that the monarch would likely agree in order to break the present political impasse.

Another lawyer, Syed Iskandar Syed Jaafar Al Mahdzar, said Azlan could try to work with PH, PAS and at least two more BN assemblymen to construct a government to fulfil the mandate given by the people.

“The menteri besar still has time on his side, and in politics anything could happen from now until the legislature meeting is called,” he said.

Syed Iskandar said Azlan could also advise the ruler to dissolve the legislature and let the people vote for a new government. -FMT