KUALA LUMPUR – Perak Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Saarani Mohamad is the party’s candidate for menteri besar following a Supreme Council meeting at Menara Dato Onn here tonight.
A source close to Umno’s top brass said the leadership has chosen Saarani to lead in the state, setting aside speculation of political cooperation with any Pakatan Harapan parties.
“Umno nominates him (Saarani), (so it is) up to the (Perak) sultan,” said the source.
Asked about the situation in the meeting that is underway at the time of this writing, the source said the “mood is ok”.
In a statement released later, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the party has cemented its alliance with Perikatan Nasional (PN) compoent parties PAS and Bersatu.
He said that the Supreme Council has decided that the state PN government must continue to be upheld.
In the same statement, Ahmad said the party’s divisional meetings involving its women, youth and Puteri wings would be held on January 1, 2 and 3 – a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The meetings, he said, will be held at 191 divisions and officiated by their respective division chiefs. For areas under enhanced movement control order (EMCO) or the conditional movement control order (CMCO), the meetings can be held virtually, he added.
“The attendance (needs to be merely) enough to fulfil a quorum – a quarter of the total delegates allowed to attend (the meetings).”
He said the general assembly for the wings will be on January 30 while the General Assembly will be on the following day.
He added the General Assembly will be held at the World Trade Centre KL (PWTC) with limited physical attendance. It will also be held virtually.
After an hour, some leaders were seen leaving the building. They were tight-lipped about the agenda tonight when asked by members of the press who were waiting at the lobby.
On Sunday, Dewan Negara Perak member Datuk Seri Mohd Annuar Zaini said: “The swearing-in of the new menteri besar will only be administered once the palace is convinced that a candidate has secured the support of a simple majority among the state assemblymen.”
Umno Supreme Council members convened at its headquarters here for a meeting chaired by party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The party's three vice-presidents, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin were also in attendance.
Others spotted arriving at the building lobby were Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim.
Kota Tampan rep Saarani is seen as the party’s pick for the menteri besar’s post after Bersatu deputy president and Chenderiang assemblyman Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu was ousted in the state assembly after losing the confidence vote last Friday.
Last Saturday, Zahid, after meeting Perak ruler Sultan Nazrin Shah, told the media that Umno was open to new political alignments with other parties, including those from Pakatan Harapan (PH), in forming the state government if Perikatan Nasional is unable to form the government.
PH parties PKR, DAP, and Amanah had indicated their willingness to work with nemesis Umno to end the political imbroglio in the state.
Perak PKR chief Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak told The Vibes that he last saw the Umno leaders on Saturday, but the decision was up to Umno
“The ball is in their court.”
In the Perak Legislative Assembly, Umno commands most seats at 25, followed by DAP (16), Amanah (5), Bersatu (5), PKR (3), PAS (3), Gerakan (1) and independent (1). – The Vibes, December 7, 2020
