A BN assemblyman says he supports the Ruler's decision, while Umno branch chiefs call for Shahidan Kassim's resignation.
Azlan Man has taken office as menteri besar despite resistance from 9 BN assembly members. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: The first cracks have appeared in Perlis Umno’s resistance to the appointment of Azlan Man as menteri besar by the Raja of Perlis, with community leaders calling for the resignation of Arau MP Shahidan Kassim.
One of the nine newly-elected Barisan Nasional assemblymen also expressed his support for the ruler’s decision, and said the political crisis about Azlan’s appointment would be over soon.
On Thursday, the nine assemblymen, allied to Shahidan, had been absent when Azlan was sworn-in for a second term by Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail, ending a 15-day impasse.
Today, Ruzaini Rais, newly-elected Beseri assemblyman, conceded to reporters that he agreed with Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin’s decision to appoint Azlan, an assemblyman for Bintong.
Ruzaini was one of the nine that were absent from the ceremony at Istana Arau. He declined to comment further, but said the crisis would end soon.
“I have no further comment…in the fasting month, it is proper to seek for forgiveness. Our loyalty to the Ruler is undivided,” he said briefly when approached by reporters in Beseri, near here, according to Bernama.
He rejected the suggestion of fresh elections being held. He said the BN had won with a big majority, securing 10 of the 15 state assembly seats.
“It is not easy to hold another election, if the number of winners and losers is the same, then it is a different story,” he said.
In Chuping, Bernama reported that Umno branch chiefs had demanded that Shahidan should apologise to the Ruler, or resign as an elected representative.
Shahidan is also head of the state Umno and Barisan Nasional.
Panggas Kecil Umno branch chief, Md Isa Seman, representing branch heads in the Chuping state constituency, said that Shahidan as an elected people’s representative could not object to the royal decree.
“These people (assemblymen) are not ordinary people…the people feel very angry, after giving them the mandate, they leave the people. Don’t be with us any more then.
“If you refuse to apologise to His Royal Highness, then we will take more serious action. Do not look down on community leaders like us,” he told reporters during a gathering to express his support for Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, according to Bernama.
Also present at the rally today were representatives of Persatuan Solidariti Nasional, Persatuan Perlis Silat Pesaka, and representatives of the Siamese community in Chuping. -FMT
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