SANGLANG state assemblyman Mohd Shukri Ramli today announced his resignation as Menteri Besar of Perlis, effective immediately, citing health reasons.
The resignation was made voluntarily and does not affect his position as an elected representative in the Perlis State Legislative Assembly.
Earlier today, Mohd Shukri presented his resignation letter to the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, after being granted an audience at the Royal Ward of Tuanku Fauziah Hospital.
“I have presented to Tuanku my intention through a letter of resignation as Menteri Besar on a voluntary basis, effective today. This resignation is made due to my health condition, which has not permitted me to continue my duties of late,” he said at a press conference at the Perlis Menteri Besar’s Official Residence.
Mohd Shukri stressed that his resignation applies solely to his role as head of the state government.
“I remain the Sanglang assemblyman and will return to serving the people in my constituency,” he said, while also expressing his appreciation to all parties who had assisted him throughout his tenure in the state administration.
Mohd Shukri, the former PAS Perlis commissioner, was appointed as the 11th Menteri Besar of Perlis on 22 November 2022.
His appointment marked a historic shift, as he became the first leader from the Perikatan Nasional coalition to take over the state administration from Barisan Nasional, which had governed Perlis for 65 years.
His resignation comes against the backdrop of mounting political tension in the state, following allegations that several PAS and Bersatu assemblymen had submitted statutory declarations to the Raja of Perlis last Friday, declaring their withdrawal of support for Mohd Shukri’s leadership.
These developments led to a special meeting at the PAS headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut yesterday, as confirmed by Perikatan Nasional Perlis chairman Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, who is also PAS Perlis deputy commissioner III.
Following the meeting, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang announced that the party had terminated the membership of three Perlis assemblymen with immediate effect under Clauses 76 and 15A(1)(b) of the PAS Constitution (2025 Amendment).
The three affected legislators are Saad Seman of Chuping, Fakhrul Anwar Ismail of Bintong and Mohd Ridzuan Hashim of Guar Sanji.
In response, Perlis State Assembly Speaker Rus’sele Eizan said this morning that his office would formally request the Election Commission to conduct by-elections for the three constituencies, citing the occurrence of extraordinary vacancies that affect the state government’s majority.
He said official notification had been received from PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan following the party’s central working committee decision.
“After reviewing and examining the related developments, I am satisfied that extraordinary vacancies have occurred which meet the requirements of Article 50A(1)(a)(ii) of the Perlis State Constitution for all three constituencies,” he said.
Rus’sele Eizan added that a written notice regarding the vacancies was also received from Beseri assemblyman Haziq Asyraf Dun in accordance with Article 50A(3) of the state constitution. While by-elections are generally not required once a state assembly has passed the three-year mark, he said the current circumstances warranted an exception.
“Although the term of the state government reached its maturity on 18 December, I am of the view that by-elections should be held to fill the vacancies. The absence of new representatives for these PAS-held seats will have implications for the state assembly majority,” he said.
He explained that the number of sitting assemblymen would be reduced to 12, including one from Pakatan Harapan, compared with the previous total of 15, of which nine seats were held by PAS. This, he said, would reduce PAS’s majority to just six seats, compared with Bersatu’s five.
“I am satisfied that these three vacancies affect the overall majority of the Perlis State Assembly and give rise to a situation where the stability of the state government is compromised. In the interest of governmental stability and to ensure the best services for the people, these vacancies should be filled,” he said.
Accordingly, the Speaker said he would exercise his discretion under the proviso of Article 55(5) of the Perlis State Constitution to formally notify the Election Commission and request that by-elections be held to fill the extraordinary vacancies. - December 25, 2025
