PERAK Umno today accused Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu of breaching the agreement forged among Bersatu, Umno and PAS when the state government was formed eight months ago.

Saarani Mohamad, the Perak Umno chief, said Faizal failed to consult all three parties when he appointed an Umno assemblyman as his political secretary.

He said the political secretary’s appointment is a breach of the spirit of consensus reached by the parties as Faizal did not discuss it with Umno. 

“I need to clarify that when an agreement was reached to form the state government, all three parties – Bersatu, Umno and PAS – agreed in writing to exercise mutual respect on matters of appointments, be it as exco members, GLC boards of director and other political appointments.

“By right, the appointment of any Umno leader or assemblyman must be discussed with the state liaison body in the spirit of camaraderie and mutual respect,” the Kota Tampan assemblyman said in a statement today.

The Barisan Nasional state chairman said the spirit of camaraderie and mutual respect no longer exists between the parties any more.  

“The reality is that it has been repeatedly breached.”

Faizal last week appointed Pengkalan Hulu assemblyman Aznel Ibrahim as his political secretary to replace Iskandar Dzulkarnian Abdul Khalid.

Saarani said Faizal also attempted to change the Perak executive council line-up, which had been agreed to and the appointment of the state speaker.

He said Umno was not power hungry and supported Faizal when he was reappointed as menteri besar after the fall of the Pakatan Harapan government.

This is despite the fact Umno had the largest number of assemblymen.

Umno currently counts 25 assemblymen among its ranks in the 59-seat assembly.

“Stop playing politics and focus on the welfare of the people who are suffering now,” he said. – October 19, 2020.