Umno reps say Perlis MB crisis over, will accept Raja’s choice
Danial Dzulkifly
Malay Mail29 May 2018
Datuk Seri Azlan Man is sworn in as Perlis mentri besar before Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail, in Arau May 24, 2018. — Bernama picMore
PETALING JAYA, May 29 — Umno will no longer contest the Raja of Perlis’ selection of Datuk Seri Azlan Man as mentri besar, said two of the party’s state assemblymen who considered the dispute resolved.
Mata Ayer assemblymen Siti Berenee Yahaya, who was among the nine Barisan Nasional (BN) representatives who boycotted Azlan’s swearing in, said they now accepted Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail’s preference in the matter.
“We consider the problem solved,’’ she said, adding that they would seek an audience with Raja of Perlis to explain their previous behaviour.
“We hope to meet with the Sultan soon to clear any misconception or misinformation,’’ she said.
BN won a supermajority in the Perlis assembly following the 14th general election, but could not agree on who should become mentri besar between Azlan and Tambun Tulang assemblyman Datuk Ismail Kassim, the brother to former MB Tan Sri Shahidan Kassim.
The Umno reps insisted on Ismail but the Ruler did not agree to his nomination, before swearing in Azlan for a second term on May 24 despite the absence of his other party colleagues who stayed away from the ceremony.
The Raja of Perlis previously said he did not want an MB who was susceptible to outside influence.
In a press conference led by Shahidan, they implored the state ruler to select any among them to replace Azlan as MB and claimed he was also sacked from Umno.
When asked if they were now backing Azlan to lead the state, Siti and Pauh lawmaker Rozieana Ahmad said they would no longer challenge the Raja’s choice and stressed that they did not mean to defy the state Ruler.
“As proud citizens of Perlis, we would never intentionally hurt the Raja. Many of us have worked closely with the royal house and would continue to do so,’’ Rozieana said.
At the height of the crisis, Shahidan had “advised” the Raja of Perlis not to meddle in the state’s administrative affairs.
The Perlis crisis mirrored that of a similar impasse in Terengganu after the 2008 general election, when the Sultan rejected Umno’s nominee for MB and insisted on an alternative.
Umno resisted the Ruler, causing a temporary constitutional crisis in the state, but later relented.
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