IPOH – Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is scheduled to see Perak ruler Sultan Nazrin Shah at 10am today for the presentation of the party’s menteri besar candidates list at Istana Kinta here.
After a flurry of meetings since the Perak menteri besar crisis began on Friday, kingmaker Umno’s decision will put to rest speculation over the post.
Bagan Datuk MP Zahid and Kota Tampan assemblyman Datuk Saarani Mohamad arrived in the same car at the palace at 9.54am.
Perak Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohamad Zahir Abdul Khalid has also been summoned for an audience at 11am, after Zahid’s meeting with the sultan.
The Vibes yesterday reported that, after the party’s Supreme Council meeting at PWTC in Kuala Lumpur, members unanimously backed Saarani for the position.
Also last night, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan issued a statement after the meeting that the party will remain with its Perikatan Nasional (PN) allies – PAS and Bersatu – to form a new state government.
Yesterday, Rungkup assemblyman Datuk Shahrul Zaman Yahya had quashed rumours that he was in the running, saying that all Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen in Perak are supporting Saarani, who is also Perak Umno state liaison committee chairman.
Similarly, PAS had reversed its decision of non-cooperation in the state with Umno. – The Vibes, December 8, 2020
