Perlis MB crisis: Shahidan denies 'derhaka' charge

Perlis BN chief Shahidan Kassim (above) has denied being derhaka(treasonous) against the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail.

However, he has once again questioned the meaning of royal court terms used against him and appealed to the ruler to consider his nominee for the Perlis menteri besar post though he did not specify whom he preferred.

“What is the meaning of derhaka? What is the meaning of murka?

“I do not understand these words because they are not mentioned in the law. What about the rakyat who are currently angry? We should not use beautiful language to scare the rakyat. Why do we scare the rakyat with words that we do not understand?

“I was not derhaka and I did not disturb anyone.

“On the part of BN, I ask Tuanku to consider the (candidate for) MB who has received the majority support,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Yesterday, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin expressed his displeasure that nine Perlis BN assemblypersons failed to attend the swearing-in ceremony of new Perlis Menteri Besar Azlan Man (below).

He appeared to blame Shahidan for it, saying the missing assemblypersons had been “pulled by an outsider” to be in Kuala Lumpur on the same day.

In his post today, Shahidan contended that elections would be rendered “meaningless” if the winning party could not suggest its candidate for MB. BN had retained Perlis in the 14th general election.

“I promise the people of Perlis to fight for their democratic rights, the party that has won the election should be able to rule the state.

“[...] Elections would be meaningless if the party that has won is not able to put forth its candidate for the MB's post,” he said in the post.

He also asked for prayers for his health.

“Pray for me that I might recover, so that I can return to fight for the rights of the Perlis people, and so that problems like this will not repeat itself,” he said.

Malaysiakini understands that Shahidan has been hospitalised.

Shahidan has since expelled Azlan from the party, rendering the latter an independent assemblyperson for Bintong. Azlan later counter-claimed saying he had not received any expulsion letter from the party.

Nine express 'no confidence' in  Azlan

Meanwhile, Shahidan’s brother and Tambun Tulang assemblyperson, Ismail Kassim, has lodged a police report against Azlan for “presenting himself as the menteri besar”.

In the report, which Malaysiakini has sighted, Ismail said he and eight other assemblypersons had “no confidence” in Azlan.

“I, along with eight other Perlis assemblypersons, all have no confidence in Azlan Man’s actions and we have no confidence in his appointment as the Perlis MB. Furthermore, whatever executive council members suggested by Azlan Man will also be given no confidence.

“The appointment of Azlan Man as the Perlis MB is something that does not abide by the Federal Constitution or the state constitution. It is an unconstitutional appointment.

“This is because an MB must have the support from the majority of the state assembly, and nine out of the 15 Perlis assemblypersons do not support his appointment,” it read.

It is understood that Shahidan had initially intended to install Ismail as the MB, but the latter has since rejected the post citing his loyalty to the monarch.

"I suggest one of my eight friends (Umno assemblypersons) as they have no problems leading the state even though they are new as long as it is not me or Azlan," Ismail has said last night. - Mkini