Zahid to meet Perak sultan at 10am tomorrow

IPOH – Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will meet Perak’s Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah at 10am tomorrow to discuss the state’s menteri besar crisis.

The audience, granted at Istana Kinta here, could see the Umno president handing over a list of candidates to the ruler.

Yesterday, Zahid met Sultan Nazrin to discuss Umno’s plans and formula to overcome the crisis, which was triggered when Bersatu’s Chenderiang assemblyman, Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, was ousted after he lost a confidence vote initiated by the Barisan Nasional lynchpin and backed by Pakatan Harapan reps.

Zahid on Saturday said Umno is not averse to charting a new political alignment and exploring the possibility of forming a state government with its PH adversaries, including long-time nemesis DAP.

This was in response to threats from Perikatan Nasional partners PAS and Bersatu, especially since the move to remove Faizal came from Umno.

However, the grassroots of both Umno and DAP are rebelling against the idea, despite state DAP chief Nga Kor Ming saying he is willing to cooperate with the Malay party.

PAS has since reversed its decision to not cooperate with Umno in Perak, saying it will defend the PN alliance, while Faizal himself has pleaded with his party members and supporters not to seek vengeance over his fall.

On Saturday night, Zahid attended a special Umno meeting chaired by the state chapter’s liaison chairman and menteri besar front-runner Datuk Saarani Mohamad.

It was speculated that the meeting discussed the party’s menteri besar candidates.

Umno will hold a Supreme Council meet at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur tonight to further discuss the matter.

PAS and Bersatu, meanwhile, are expected to meet tomorrow over the menteri besar crisis. – The Vibes, December 7, 2020