PERLIS’ menteri besar crisis could have been avoided if state BN chairman Shahidan Kassim was made aware that Azlan Man, who is the state ruler’s pick, was the also the party leaders’ choice for the MB post.

Bernama quoted Perlis Umno Youth chief Syed Atif Syed Abu Bakar as saying that Shahidan and the other 9 BN assemblymen were unaware that Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Hishammuddin Hussein had agreed Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail that Azlan would be the menteri besar.

Zahid and Hishammuddin had audience with Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin on May 22, and submitted the names of Ismail Kassim, who is Shahidan’s brother, and Azlan.

Syed Atif said Shahidan and the ther BN reps were unaware of this, and continued supporting Ismail.

He said the Perlis BN assemblymen assumed that Azlan had disregarded the party when he accepted the appointment.

The proposal for Azlan’s immediate expulsion from the party was made last Thursday, right after he was sworn in as the Menteri Besar of Perlis for the second term at the Istana Arau.

Syed Atif said right before the announcement of Azlan’s expulsion, a meeting with BN top leadership was held in Kuala Lumpur.

“At that moment, the assemblymen were torn between attending the swearing-in ceremony and the call to meet with the party’s top leadership in Kuala Lumpur as both events took place at almost the same time.

“However, the nine BN assemblymen opted to attend the meeting to discuss and listen to the message from the party’s top leadership,” he said.

Shahidan had earlier announced that Ismail would be appointed as mentri besar after BN won 10 out of the 15 state seats in Perlis in the May 9 general election. ― May 26, 2018.