KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s smallest state Perlis has been plunged into political uncertainty with the resignation of Chief Minister Mohd Shukri Ramli and sacking of three assemblymen from his party, sending ripples across the country’s political alliances.
Shukri, from the Islamist Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), cited health reasons for stepping down, but said he was blindsided by the withdrawal of support from state assemblymen from the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition made up of PAS and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).
In a press conference broadcast “live” on his Facebook page on Thursday (Dec 25), Shukri reportedly said he was unaware of statutory declarations filed by eight assemblymen withdrawing support for him until the day they were submitted.
“I only learned about it on the day of the incident. It shows how cunningly they planned this,” he said, as reported by news outlet Free Malaysia Today.
Shukri said he was disappointed with the three sacked assemblymen – Saad Seman, Fakhrul Anwar Ismail, and Ridzuan Hashim – for pulling their support.
“I made a mistake by being too nice and appreciative of the friendship that I had (with them). I did not expect that this friendship would result in me being treated this way,” he said.
The other five PN assemblymen who withdrew support for Shukri were from Bersatu, and PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has called on its coalition partner to act against them.
Tuan Ibrahim said Bersatu must take stern measures as a sign of respect towards its fellow party in PN, and to ensure that discipline within the coalition and ties remained intact, Free Malaysia Today reported.
PN is the federal opposition pact.
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said on Friday (Dec 26) the party has presented a list of names for the Perlis Chief Minister post for Perlis’ constitutional monarch Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail’s consideration. He declined to reveal the names, reported news outlet Utusan Malaysia.
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