PERAK Amanah deputy chief and former Perak menteri besar Nizar Jamaluddin was Pakatan Harapan’s choice for the state’s top post until late yesterday.

However, two Umno assemblymen’s insistence that they would only support PH and Bersatu state chief Ahmad Faizal Azumu as menteri besar thwarted PH’s plan.

“I was invited to the (Kuala Kangsar) palace at 4.30pm and informed that I was accorded the menteri besar portfolio from the (PH) presidential council,” Nizar told Malaysia Decides today.

“I don’t know what happened behind the scenes after that.” 

A source said the two Umno assemblymen raised their objections to Nizar’s appointment to Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah at the last minute.

“The sultan had to call all the party chiefs in Perak and made the decision to swear in Ahmad Faizal,” said the source. 

Nizar previously served as Perak MB between 2008 and 2009, before being unseated after a constitutional crisis. 

On whether he was disappointed, Nizar said he had to respect the ruler’s decision.

“I’m not. This is the prerogative of the ruler. I have to abide by his decision,” said the Sungai Rapat assemblyman. 

The two Umno assemblymen, Nolee Radzi (Tualang Sekah) and Fadzi Paharuddin (Sungai Manik), said they had not defected to PH but were only supporting Chenderiang assemblyman Ahmad Faizal to be the MB.

“On realising that to ensure the state government was formed according to procedure, I gave my support to a MB candidate. 

“However, I will not hop parties and I still represent BN. I apologise and am ready to face the consequences from the leadership,” Nolee wrote on Facebook last night. 

Meanwhile, Fadzi said his decision to support a PH state government was not due to personal interest, Utusan Malaysia reported.

“I didn’t ask for anything. I’m just thinking of the people in my constituency and the consequences if our state government is different from the federal government,” he said. – May 13, 2018