ARAU: The nine state Barisan Nasional (BN) elected reps who skipped the Menteri Besar swearing-in ceremony today, have earned the wrath of Raja Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail.
The Ruler, who did not hide his disappointment over the BN assemblymen's action, said he could not understand why all the reps were absent when they had received an invitation two days ago.
“Clearly (their absence) is for the benefit of certain people, I am reluctant to mention any name but all of you know who the person is.
“Today most of them are not present… I cannot tell why, but the invitation was handed over to them two days ago here in the state.
“Now they are in Kuala Lumpur, they took a flight last night… based on an information that I received,” Raja Perlis said in his speech during the swearing-in ceremony of Datuk Seri Azlan Man as Perlis MB for the second term at Istana Arau this morning
He said, until last night he was still deliberating on who should become the menteri besar since there are two names on his mind.
The two shortlisted names were Azlan and Tambun Tulang state assemblyman, Datuk Ismail Kassim, younger brother of Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim, the chairman of Perlis Umno Liaison Committee.
“One (of the candidates) was someone who held the post in the previous term and I want the development plans for the state to continue, for the benefit of the people.
“The other candidate is someone who has a very close relationship with the Perlis Umno Liaison Committee chairman…
"When I met with all BN assemblymen, I found out from their replies that the elected representatives were more submissive to the state Umno liaison committee chief than the federal leaders,
“It is like there is a grip…I am worried of picking Datuk Ismail Kassim… I'm a worried that I (might) choose a Menteri Besar who will only become a puppet,” he said.
Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin insisted that he does not want a state government leader who will be controlled by “external forces”.
He said the menteri besar had to take the oath of secrecy and that if Ismail was appointed as the menteri besar he would reveal secrets to his elder brother.
“As all of you have heard in the oath taken by the menteri besar, he cannot tell or discuss (state matters) with others except those in the state assembly.
“If the younger brother becomes the menteri besar, of course he will tell his brother…I do not want this.
"If Shahidan had wanted (to be the menteri besar), he should have contested for the state seat but he contested for a parliamentary seat…this was the problem..I do not want our secrets to be leaked to outsiders,” he said.
The Ruler added that what happened today has proven his point that the BN elected reps were being controlled by "someone".
“Nine BN elected representatives failed to present here today because they were controlled by someone.. The person took them to Kuala Lumpur to make sure that they do not attend the ceremony.
“This is what worried me since the beginning and my suspicion is correct…this is just a small thing but if I let it be, worse things can happen.
“A wrong choice of menteri besar (that) will only benefit certain quarter,” he said.
