THE quest to find a new Perak Menteri Besar continues, even after state leaders met with Sultan Nazrin Shah this morning.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been granted an audience with the Perak sultan tomorrow morning.

Perak Dewan Negara member Mohd Annuar Zaini said the sultan has heard their views but it is not the sultan’s responsibility to interfere in the affairs of the respective parties.

“The sultan can only advise on finding the best formula to form the new government and leadership. That is all,” he told reporters after the opposition party leaders meeting with the Sultan.

“We understand that Umno is having a special meeting tonight. It does not involve the palace but that is what the Umno leaders have informed,” he told reporters.

Bersatu’s Ahmad Faizal Azumu lost his position as Menteri Besar after losing a trust vote in the Perak assembly and has to quit as menteri besar.

Forty-eight assemblyman voted against him in the 59-seat legislature, while 10 voted for him. There was one spoilt vote.

“Fifty-nine ballots were given out and only 10 have agreed (to maintain Faizal) while 48 disagreed. There was one spoilt vote,” said Perak Speaker Zahid Abdul Khalid.

The confidence motion against Faizal, who is the Chenderiang assemblyman, was filed by Umno’s Pengkalan Baharu assemblyman Abdul Manaf Hashim last month.

Faisal was appointed as Perak MB after Pakatan Harapan (PH) won the state in 2018. Although Bersatu had the fewest assemblymen, PH decided to appoint him due to the power sharing agreement it had with Bersatu.

Following the collapse of PH at the federal level in February, Faisal resigned as the MB to form a new state government with Barisan Nasional and PAS.

Despite Bersatu having just five assemblymen to Umno’s 25 and PAS’ three, Faizal was reappointed in March after Perikatan Nasional (PN) took over the state.

The PN government is currently supported by eight PN assemblymen and 25 from BN, and also has support from one Gerakan assemblyman and one independent in the 59-seat state assembly.

The opposition in Perak is made up of 24 assemblymen in PH – DAP (16), Amanah (five) and PKR (three). – December 5, 2020.