PERLIS CRISIS A CLEAR SIGN ZAHID NOT FIT TO LEAD UMNO OR BN: CORRUPTION-TAINTED UMNO BIGWIGS ONLY GOOD AT ASKING COPS TO RETURN SEIZED NAJIB MONEY TO ‘REBUILD PARTY’?

KANGAR: The crisis in Perlis has highlighted the poor leadership of Barisan Nasional at national level.

The situation was allowed to fester as there was no direction from the top.

Perlis also may need to call for a fresh state election if Barisan Nasional (BN) and the palace can’t find a solution to the present political standoff in the state, said a legal expert here.

Perlis Bar Committee representative Ahmad Zaini Samsudin said that matter can’t be allowed to go on too long as the administration of the state is hampered.

The BN national leaders should have shown stronger leadership skills by offering solutions to the Perlis BN leaders, Zaini said.

Zaini pointed out that there would be a backlog on land transactions as the mentri besar’s office is without a leader for two weeks.

“If there is no other probable way out, a fresh state election can be called,” he said.

Zaini was commenting on the crisis in Perlis after its state BN liaison chairman Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim proposed that Umno sacks Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man, who was just sworn in by the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Syed Jamalullail on Thursday.

Nine BN backbenchers, all from Umno, boycotted the ceremony.

Zaini said there are many sides that must take the blame for this ongoing power struggle which has now entered its 17th day.

BN should not have reacted in this way towards the state ruler, he said. There could have been a diplomatic approach, a win-win situation for the state, its people and the leaders including the palace, he added.

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Azlan should have informed the palace that he has not received any mandate or an appointment letter from BN to be the mentri besar, Zaini said.

He must receive the legal document (watikah), and Azlan should have better advised the Ruler, he added.

As of 10am, it is the only state without a proper government in place.

Political scientist Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian has pointed out that the Malay Rulers have a say in determining who’s appointed as the mentri besar of their states. It has happened in Perak, Pahang, Terengganu, Perlis and Selangor.

Although, the palace is seen as a customary ceremonial institution, the rulers often dispense strong advice on the administration of the state including on policy issues, said Sivamurugan.

He said there is no need for a snap election as Perlis BN has a two-thirds majority by winning 10 of the 15 state seats, and two out of three Parliament ones.

SUNDAILY