Perak crisis mostly likely resolved today, says Ahmad Maslan
The Perak political crisis is expected to be resolved today with all three parties within Perikatan Nasional (PN) currently holding discussions on the matter.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan expressed confidence that today’s ongoing discussions between Umno, Pas and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) will be resolved “very soon”.
“At this very second, the presidents of Umno (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi), Pas (Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang) and Bersatu (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) are in discussion. I am confident it is to resolve this issue.
“It will be settled today… (I am) 99.9 per cent (sure it) will be resolved today,” he told reporters at the Parliament building, but did not reveal the location of the meeting.
Also present at the press conference were Barisan Nasional (BN) members of parliament Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (Arau), Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz (Padang Rengas), Ramli Mohd Nor (Cameron Highlands) and Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (Baling).
The post of Perak menteri besar has been vacant since Saturday when Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu stepped down after losing a confidence vote at the state assembly sitting on Friday.
The motion on a vote of confidence was tabled by Datuk Abd Manap Hashim (BN-Pengkalan Baru), with Ahmad Faizal only obtaining the support of 10 assemblymen while 48 were against him and one abstained.
BN has the highest number of representatives in the Perak state assembly with 25, followed by DAP (16), Parti Amanah Negara (five), Bersatu (five), PKR and Pas (three each), Gerakan (one) and an independent.
Yesterday, the Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah met with Ahmad Zahid who was believed to have nominated Perak Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Saarani Mohamad to be the next MB.
After the audience, Ahmad Zahid had asserted that the nominee, whom he did not name, possessed majority support among Perak assemblymen, but declined to confirm if this includes lawmakers from PN parties Bersatu and Pas.
It was then reported that the Sultan had wanted to meet with Bersatu and Pas leaders to get their stand.
However, Ahmad Faizal, who is state’s Bersatu chief, said there had been no official invitation from the palace and Pas did not show up.
With the two no-shows, the palace later released a statement saying that there was still no clear indication that any party had the support of the majority. Nst
