Zahid decries Perlis MB boycott message as fake

De facto Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says a message calling on Perlis BN to boycott the swearing in of the Perlis menteri besar yesterday is fake.

“I strongly deny this. This statement is false,” said Zahid on his Facebook earlier today.

The message, claiming to be from Zahid, carried a directive to Perlis BN assemblypersons to boycott the swearing in ceremony.

“We don't need to give face or show respect to the Raja of Perlis,” the message claimed.

Yesterday, nine BN assemblypersons were absent when BN's chosen menteri besar Azlan Man was sworn in at the palace, for unknown reasons.

Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail was reportedly angered with the BN assemblypersons' absence at the ceremony.

The Perlis menteri besar crisis that had festered since BN won the state at the May 9 general election. continued with Perlis Umno sacking Azlan from the party yesterday.

This was announced at a press conference by Perlis BN chief Shahidan Kassim, attended by the missing nine assemblypersons.

Shahidan had initially named his brother Ismail as the menteri besar.

Zahid meanwhile said the fake message was malicious and aimed at causing infighting.

“Umno and BN respect the royal institution as enshrined in the federal constitution.

“(The fake message) is the work of those who want to pit us against one another,” he said, calling for his members to be vigilant. - Mkini