IPOH – The menteri besar crisis in Perak is still at a stalemate as ruler Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah remains unconvinced that anyone holds a simple majority in the state assembly.
Dewan Negara Perak member Datuk Seri Mohd Annuar Zaini reiterated his statement earlier that the swearing-in ceremony will be put on hold until the sultan is convinced that an assemblyman commands majority support in the state House.
“As His Royal Highness has not been convinced that any parties have a simple majority, and until His Royal Highness is convinced that a party has the simple majority, only then will the swearing-in ceremony take place.
“Right now, no one has managed to convince His Royal Highness. We will wait until they (the political parties) are ready to convince His Royal Highness, and the sultan is satisfied that there is a simple majority to form a government,” said Annuar.
When asked about former menteri besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir’s audience with the ruler, the royal adviser said it was a request from Perak Umno state liaison committee chairman Datuk Saarani Mohamad.
Pangkor assemblyman Zambry and Kota Tampan assemblyman Saarani had briefed the sultan on ongoing negotiations between the various political parties in the state.
Earlier, Pakatan Harapan state leaders – DAP’s Nga Kor Ming, Amanah’s Asmuni Awi and PKR’s Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak – had been granted an audience with Sultan Nazrin, where they briefed him of their own negotiations.
This morning, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had announced that his party’s menteri besar candidate had more than the simple majority needed to form a state government.
However, PAS state commissioner Razman Zakaria reportedly told Free Malaysia Today that he did not receive the green light from the party’s central leadership to endorse an Umno-led administration.
PAS reps were originally slated to have an audience with Sultan Nazrin at 3pm but requested to withdraw their audience at the behest of the Islamist party’s central leadership.
Annuar today said for the time being, there are no more requests to have an audience at the palace.
Tonight, Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders will hold a meeting to discuss the ongoing Perak menteri besar crisis at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur at 8.30pm.
The Perak government had collapsed on Friday after then menteri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu lost a confidence vote with 48 against, 10 in support and one damaged or abstained.
Faizal tendered his resignation to the sultan on Saturday, which automatically dissolved the state executive committee. – The Vibes, December 8, 2020
