GE15: with two Umno warlords dropped, what’s next for Perlis?

KANGAR – The political situation at the nation’s smallest state is extremely fluid as two Umno warlords were dropped as candidates in their strongholds.

Arau Umno division chief Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, who is one of the longest-serving leaders to have emerged from Perlis, together with Padang Besar Umno division chief Datuk Seri Zahidi Zainul Abidin, were not selected by Umno to defend their seats despite being Umno Supreme Council members.

As a result, both divisions have suspended their election machinery for now.

In an immediate reaction, Shahidan, 71, hastily held a press conference last night where he told journalists that he will defend the Arau Parliament seat as an independent.

Shahidan was aghast with Umno, who had dared to name his replacement without sanctioning it with him.

“I am a winnable candidate so I should have a chance to defend my seat.”

At the same time, Umno’s splinter party Bersatu has withheld naming a candidate for the seat with the nomination day less than 72 hours away.

Shahidan’s slot was given to corporate businessman Datuk Rozabil Abdul Rahman, who was born in Penang but came over to Perlis in 2015 to further his political career.

Rozabil is said to be close to caretaker health minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

It was learnt that Umno will try to pacify Shahidan, who has been facing the possibility of being dropped in the last two elections.

Party insiders said that Shahidan is a populist leader but at the same time, he may have overstayed and stepped on the “toes” of certain higher-ups in Perlis.

“It is an open secret that some influential persons want him out of Perlis. He has survived two previous attempts and now the third may be mission impossible.”

Shahidan has outlasted the likes of Tan Sri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, the former home minister and Umno secretary-genera,l as well as Tan Sri Azmi Khalid, another minister who was Padang Besar Umno chieftain before Zahidi took over.

Also former state development officer, Shahidan is one of the colourful characters in Umno. He is said to also be adept in handling social and sporting organisations.

He now leads the Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU).

Zahidi, who is an outspoken deputy minister under the Communications and Multimedia Ministry, is also popular among the grassroots in the predominantly agrarian community in Padang Besar.

He is lobbying the authorities extensively to allow farmers here to export their kratom (ketum) produce to Thailand.

Meanwhile, PKR’s Indera Kayangan assemblyperson Gan Ay Ling said that the developments in Umno would not make PKR complacent.

“It is an uphill task to dislodge Umno or Barisan Nasional from Perlis, and now there is a third coalition in Perikatan Nasional, not to mention independents also seeking to make a mark here.

“We need to work harder in Perlis and hopefully the voters will see that it is only through good governance and sensible measures that the state can return to its progressive path. 

“We need not get caught up in stagnation,” she said. – The Vibes, November 2, 2022