New Perak MB promises to mend 'wounds'

 

Newly-minted Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad has promised to mend "wounds" in his coalition.

"When the top three leaders of our parties signed a joint agreement, (it means) they are ready to come as one.

"We will work to mend wounds if any. God willing, we will fix the weaknesses in all three parties," he told reporters after being sworn-in this morning.

The Kota Tampan assemblyperson for Umno was replying to a question on how he intended to maintain his party's relationship with Bersatu and PAS.

Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu, who is Saarani's predecessor, was ousted last Thursday after he failed a confidence vote in the Perak legislative assembly.

The confidence motion was brought by an Umno lawmaker who was a backbencher. PAS and Bersatu are believed to have voted to retain Faizal while all Umno backbenchers voted against.

Soon after, Umno explored the possibility of forming a coalition with Pakatan Harapan but was unsuccessful.

Eventually, the top party leaders of Umno, Bersatu and PAS decided yesterday that the position should be given to Saarani.

This was only after Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi apologised over the "mistake" made by his party's lawmakers in the state assembly. - Mkini