KANGAR: Just when the Perlis menteri besar crisis seemed to be simmering down, the state Barisan Nasional (BN) has decided to make things even more difficult.
It has decided that it will send a list of 11 names to the Raja of Perlis for the post of menteri besar.
The list comprises the names of nine assemblymen and two members of parliament, including state BN chairman Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.
State BN secretary Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin, who is the other MP whose name is in the list, said they were still awaiting a date for an audience with Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail, adding that he hoped that it could be as early as next week.
“As I said earlier, we will hold a press conference to publicly apologise to Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin and after that, we will hopefully have an audience with him. We will present the list of 11 names to Tuanku for him to make a decision,” he said when contacted.
Asked about the inclusion of Shahidan and his own name in the list, seeing as how they are not assemblymen but MPs, Zahidi said there was a provision under state laws which says that the Raja of Perlis may appoint anyone as MB, including members of parliament.
“Before this, we only sent in one name, so maybe it was difficult for Tuanku to choose, so we will send 11 this time,” he said.
The Perlis MB crisis has entered its third week, even though Datuk Seri Azlan Man has already been sworn in as the state’s chief executive.
The crisis began almost as soon as the 14th general election ended, when Shahidan proposed his own brother, Tambung Tulang assemblyman Datuk Ismail, as the MB.
However, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin rejected the proposal.
When Azlan took his oath of office last Thursday, the other nine BN assemblymen boycotted the ceremony in Istana Arau, earning the wrath of the ruler.
That day, all nine assemblymen turned up in Kuala Lumpur where Shahidan announced that Azlan had been sacked from Umno, a move that earned him criticism as only the Umno disciplinary board has the power to terminate anyone’s membership.
