Perlis Barisan wants new MB Azlan sacked from Umno

KUALA LUMPUR: Perlis Barisan Nasional has proposed that the newly sworn-in Perlis Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man be sacked from Umno.

Its chairman Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said the proposal was relayed to acting Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and deputy president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein during a meeting.

“I have sent a letter to Raja Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail to inform His Highness that Tambun Tulang assemblyman Datuk Ismail Kassim commands the confidence of the majority in the state assembly.

“But after that, His Highness met with all the assemblymen and asked their views on who they supported. Nine said they supported Ismail, but the tenth – Azlan – did not say anything,” Shahidan told a press conference. Ismail and Shahidan are brothers.

Azlan, who is Bintong assemblyman, was sworn in as the Perlis Mentri Besar for the second term in a ceremony yesterday that was boycotted by Barisan assemblymen.

Shahidan said even though there was a clause allowing the Ruler to appoint anyone as mentri besar, it did not happen in other states.

Shahidan called on the Raja of Perlis to respect the state’s Constitution instead of interfering with the state’s governance.

Besides appealing to Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah for his opinion on the matter, Shahidan also appealed to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to intervene.

Meanwhile, late last night, Ismail told reporters that the Barisan assemblymen felt Azlan was unfit to lead the state as he did not show good leadership.

Ismail pleaded with the Raja of Perlis to pick one from the eight remaining Barisan reps as mentri besar, “as long as it’s not Ismail Kassim or Azlan Man”.

He said he did not want to be accused as “gila kuasa (power hungry)”, adding that the question of him being a puppet to his brother Shahidan should not arise, and that the Ruler did not know him well.