Perlis PN turmoil exposes leadership rift, says PH, as by-elections loom

THE political upheaval involving Perikatan Nasional (PN) assemblymen in Perlis has underscored what Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders describe as a leadership failure driven by internal power struggles rather than concern for public welfare or administrative stability.

Perlis PH chairman Noor Amin Ahmad said the crisis was entirely avoidable, pointing out that PAS and Bersatu together command a strong majority in the state assembly, with nine and five seats respectively.

Despite this advantage, he said PN leaders failed to manage disagreements internally, resulting in unnecessary instability.

“The crisis involving Perikatan Nasional (PN) assemblymen in Perlis has highlighted that the party’s leadership prioritises political interests over the welfare of the people and the stability of the state administration,” Noor Amin said at a press conference yesterday.

He stressed that disagreements over leadership, including the position of Menteri Besar, should not have escalated into disciplinary action that immediately stripped assemblymen of their party membership, creating vacancies in three constituencies.

“No external pressure, whether from Barisan Nasional (BN) or PH, caused this instability. It shows that the party leadership has been focused on who rises and who falls, despite having a huge majority,” he said.

Noor Amin added that the handling of the matter reflected poorly on PN’s leadership capacity, particularly given the party’s dominant position in the state assembly.

“I am not saying the Menteri Besar cannot be replaced, but you have a huge majority and did not use it to discuss matters internally, which shows a shortcoming in leadership,” he noted, adding that it unnecessarily drew the royal institution into political disputes.

The controversy follows reports that several PN assemblymen had sought an audience with the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, to convey their loss of confidence in Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli and to withdraw their support.

Subsequently, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang announced on December 24 that the party membership of Chuping assemblyman Saad Seman, Bintong assemblyman Fakhrul Anwar Ismail and Guar Sanji assemblyman Mohd Ridzuan Hashim had ceased with immediate effect.

The decision was made under Clause 76 and Clause 15A(1)(b) of the PAS Constitution (Amendment 2025).

Mohd Shukri later held a press conference in which he announced his voluntary resignation as Perlis Menteri Besar on health grounds, stating that his resignation would take effect once it received the consent of the Raja of Perlis.

Against this backdrop, Noor Amin said the call by Perlis state assembly speaker Rus’sele Eizan for by-elections in the three affected constituencies could open the door to closer cooperation between PH and Barisan Nasional in the state. He noted that while the Perlis legislative assembly has already passed the three-year mark of its term, having completed three years on December 18, the by-elections could still play a role in restoring political stability.

In the 15th General Election, PN secured 14 of the 15 state assembly seats in Perlis, with PAS winning nine and Bersatu five. Pakatan Harapan won a single seat through PKR in the Indera Kayangan constituency. - December 28, 2025