Three PAS assemblymen ordered to return state assets

 

PETALING JAYA: Three Perlis PAS assemblymen have been told to return state-owned assets following the termination of their party membership, said Perlis Speaker Rus’sele Eizan.

Rus’sele said the three assemblymen would soon be notified to return any government assets they were still using.

“State assets must be returned as soon as possible.

“The state legislative assembly will inform the respective assemblymen to return what has been used,” he said at a press conference at the Perlis Legislative Assembly Speaker’s Office at the Seri Putra Complex on Thursday (Dec 25).

Rus’sele also said three seats in the Perlis Legislative Assembly must be filled to ensure the stability of the state government in continuing to serve the people effectively.

Exercising the discretion provided under the proviso to Clause (5) of Article 55 of the Perlis State Constitution, he said he would notify the Election Commission (EC) in writing that the numerical strength of parties forming the majority in the state assembly had been affected by the three unexpected vacancies.

“I will request the EC to hold by-elections to fill these unexpected vacancies,” he said.

He added that a notification had been received from PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyudin Hassan stating that the PAS Central Working Committee meeting held on Wednesday (Dec 24) had decided, based on Clauses 76 and 15A(1)(b) and (d) of the PAS Constitution, that the party membership of three PAS legislators had been terminated with immediate effect.

They are Chuping assemblyman Saad Seman, Bintong assemblyman Fakhrul Anwar Ismail and Guar Sanji assemblyman Mohd Ridzuan Hashim.

It was earlier reported that internal turmoil had arisen within Perikatan Nasional (PN) in Perlis after eight state assemblymen submitted statutory declarations (SDs) to the Raja of Perlis to retract their support for Mentri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli.

The group allegedly comprised three PAS assemblymen and five from Bersatu.

Perlis has 15 state seats. In the 15th General Election, PN won 14 seats, with PAS securing nine and Bersatu five, while Pakatan Harapan, through PKR, won one seat in Indera Kayangan.

Without the support of the eight assemblymen, Mohd Shukri would lose a simple majority and would thus be unable to remain as Mentri Besar. - Star