Barisan Nasional (BN) state assemblymen who are considered to have gone against the decree of the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail should immediately apologise to His Royal Highness, or resign as representatives of the people.
Panggas Kecil Umno Branch chief Md Isa Seman, representing all the branch heads in the Chuping state constituency, said state BN chairman Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim should also resign, because a 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 anymore 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,” Md Isa told reporters today
On May 24, nine BN assemblymen were absent from the swearing-in of Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man, who is also from BN, saying he did not command the support of the majority.
They instead joined Shahidan in Kuala Lumpur, who later, during a press conference announced the proposal to remove Azlan’s membership from the party.
The move had greatly upset the Raja of Perlis, saying the final decision to appoint the mentri besar was under his jurisdiction, in accordance with the state constitution.
Yesterday, Perlis Umno Youth chief Syed Atif Syed Abu Bakar said that Shahidan did not know that Azlan Man was chosen by the party’s top leadership to be appointed as mentri besar.
Syed Atis said the crisis in the state may not have happened and that Shahidan and the nine BN assemblymen may have responded differently had they been properly apprised of the situation.
Commenting on Shahidan’s claim, former senator Ramli Sharif said that the party leadership’s decision on the matter is immaterial, as they are not required to apprise Shahidan of all the choices they make.
He said Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as acting BN chairman and Hishammuddin Hussein as acting deputy president outrank Shahidan and they do not have to consult with him.
According to Ramli, Shahidan should have accepted whatever decision made by the party’s leadership on the appointment of Menteri Besar.
“Shahidan should realise his role and limitations as a state chairman and state Umno liaison committee chairman, which is just to coordinate Umno activities at the state level. Thus, if there is a decision made at the national level, we at the state level must accept it.
“(We should not react by) by trying to sack someone else from the party. Umno’s constitution clearly states that the power to sack any member (belongs only to the) Umno Supreme Council,” he was quoted as saying.
Ramli thus urged Shahidan and the nine BN state assemblymen who boycotted the Menteri Besar’s swearing-in ceremony to return to Perlis and apologise to Istana Arau.
“Make an apology to Tuanku Raja Perlis and to the Menteri Besar himself.
“If (you cannot) accept this decision, there is no other choice except to relinquish (your) position as elected representatives,” Ramli was quoted as saying.