Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin has denied that the party had issued instructions to its five assemblymen in Perlis to withdraw their support for Shukri Ramli as menteri besar.
Muhyiddin said Bersatu only submitted the names of its candidates for the post after being instructed to do so by the Perlis ruler’s office.
“I wish to stress that no instructions were issued to members of the Perlis state legislative assembly from Bersatu to sign statutory declarations (SDs).
“Accordingly, Bersatu will hear explanations from the party’s assemblymen in Perlis to ascertain the facts of the matter,” he said in a statement today.
Five Bersatu assemblymen were among eight who allegedly submitted SDs to the Perlis ruler expressing their loss of confidence in Shukri’s leadership.
Muhyiddin, who is the Perikatan Nasional chairman, expressed confidence in the mechanisms of each of the coalition’s component parties to handle arising issues prudently, ensuring the stability and continuity of the opposition-led administration in Perlis.
He also stressed that PN respects the discretionary powers of the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, in the appointment of the next menteri besar and will continue to uphold the state constitution.
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang revealed yesterday that his party has submitted its list of candidates for the menteri besar’s post and said it was up to Bersatu to decide whether to take action against the five assemblymen.
The five are believed to be Abu Bakar Hamzah (Kuala Perlis), Izizam Ibrahim (Titi Tinggi), Megat Hashirat Hassan (Pauh), Wan Zikri Afthar Ishak (Tambun Tulang) and Marzita Mansor (Sena).
PAS had earlier terminated the membership of its three Perlis assemblymen – Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji) – for allegedly joining their Bersatu counterparts in submitting SDs to the ruler.
Pressure was mounting from PAS leaders, including deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, for Bersatu to take action against its elected representatives.
Fadhli even said that failure to do so could be seen as a signal that Bersatu is no longer interested in maintaining political cooperation with PAS within PN.
