OPPOSITION coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN) is under renewed scrutiny following calls from Umno to disband the alliance, with suggestions to revive Muafakat Nasional (MN) amid mounting political instability in Perlis.
UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh pointed to recent developments in the northern state as confirmation of long-standing concerns over internal betrayal within PN.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, he argued that the turmoil in Perlis highlighted why reinforcing MN, rather than PN, would have been a more prudent political strategy ahead of the 15th General Election (GE15).
“Only now are true colours being revealed. There has been backstabbing,” he wrote, adding that PN might as well be disbanded to make way for the return of MN.
The statements come as Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli’s position is reported to be increasingly precarious.
Previously, eight state assemblymen (ADUNs) were said to have withdrawn support for his leadership, creating uncertainty over the stability of the state government. The group is believed to have submitted statutory declarations (SDs) to the Perlis Palace last Friday.
In a decisive move, PAS announced the immediate termination of membership for three Perlis ADUNs who were involved in signing the SDs.
The affected lawmakers are Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and Mohd Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji).
PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said the decision was taken during a special meeting of the party’s central working committee held on Wednesday at his office in Rusila, Marang, Terengganu.
He explained that the action was in accordance with Clauses 76 and 15A(1)(b) of the PAS Constitution (2025 Amendment), which allow for automatic termination of membership under such circumstances.
Abdul Hadi added that PAS would formally notify the Speaker of the Perlis State Legislative Assembly to comply with Article 50A(1)(a)(ii) of the Perlis State Constitution (Amendment) 2022.
Perlis has a total of 15 state assembly seats. In GE15, PN secured a commanding victory with 14 seats, leaving Pakatan Harapan (PH) with only one seat in Indera Kayangan.
The current political upheaval, however, has cast doubt over the coalition’s once-dominant position in the state. - December 25, 2025
