KANGAR – Perlis caretaker menteri besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man faces the fight of his political life after his former allies in Umno turned foes, with two former party warlords joining forces to oust him.
Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and Datuk Seri Zahidi Zainul Abidin, who were previously Umno division heads in Arau and Padang Besar respectively, have alleged that Azlan is among the main reasons that the state is embroiled in a “civil war” which may result in PAS being the main benefactor.
Despite being the smallest state in Malaysia, Perlis is now the stage of one of Umno’s most bitter tussles.
The quarrel, which was simmering before, intensified when Shahidan and Zahidi were not renominated to defend their respective Arau and Padang Besar parliamentary seats for the November 19 polls.
Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said that it was time to allow younger leaders from the party to contest and urged the duo to respect the process.
But it only triggered a rebellion within Perlis Umno with both Shahidan and Zahidi going on to contest in the election. Shahidan is a direct nominee of Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Zahidi is running as an independent.
As a result, both Shahidan and Zahidi were automatically expelled from Umno.
Today, eight days after the rebellion began, Shahidan has declared that he will work to ensure that Azlan loses in the Bintong state seat, while Zahidi plans with some others to defeat Puteri Umno chief Datuk Zahida Zarik Khan in Padang Besar.
Last night he appeared with Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammed Sanusi Md Nor, who is a PAS leader, in Jerlun, which is being defended by Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir from Pejuang.
Shahidan is no average leader in Perlis. He was the menteri besar for three terms and even served some years as a federal minister.
Perikatan’s strength grows in Perlis
Incidentally, Shahidan is taking on his former political secretary Datuk Rozabil Abdul Rahman in Arau.
Also, the Tambun Tulang state seat in Arau is being defended by Shahidan's younger brother Datuk Ismail Kassim of Umno.
Shahidan initially wanted to field his wife Datin Seri Shamsiah Mohd Yassin against Ismail.
Emotions aside, Azlan faces a tough time in trying to retain Perlis for BN because PN has strengthened in the state.
Shahidan is known for having defeated the late Datuk Haron Din, a respected figure in PAS, not once but twice in Arau.
Out of the 15 state seats, BN only has nine while Pakatan Harapan (PH) has three and PAS two.
Sensing victory, PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has declared that if the coalition he leads wins, he will name a candidate from component PAS as the menteri besar.
The leading contender for now is Mohd Shukri Ramli who will defend his Sanglang state seat, which is a PAS stronghold. The party’s spiritual advisor Datuk Hashim Jasin also hails from Perlis.
It has been alleged that Azlan, a former diplomat turned politician, has been facing sabotage from the time he was named to succeed Shahidan as menteri besar in the 2013 general election.
Pakatan hoping for slip-up by two rival coalitions
Azlan’s personality is usually reserved, but three days ago he became so riled with Shahidan that he retorted by calling the latter a traitor and ungrateful.
He vowed to fight Shahidan with the entire BN machinery at his disposal, enticing a response from the latter, who made a vow to ensure Azlan’s defeat in his seat of Bintong.
Azlan is a protege of former de facto law minister Tan Sri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, whose father Tun Sheikh Ahmad Mohd Hashim was the state’s first menteri besar.
It is learnt that he may call on Radzi and former Padang Besar MP Tan Sri Azmi Khalid to help the state BN fend off the attacks by Shahidan and PN.
Waiting on the sidelines is PH, ready to pounce on any mistakes committed by either BN or PN in Perlis.
Currently, it is looking difficult for BN to defend the state, but the second half of campaigning is just underway. It remains to be seen who can score the “last-minute goal” to secure victory for either BN, PN or PH.
Zahidi is betting on the warlords to reign supreme as they have a strong track record in helping the people of Perlis in the past three decades. – The Vibes, November 14, 2022.
