Crisis brewing

Crisis brewing

Posted by Raja Petra
Saturday, 15 March 2008,MT

In Perlis: Ruler ignores PM's endorsement of incumbent to appoint new menteri besar

By Hazlin Hassan, THE STRAITS TIMES

A POLITICAL crisis was brewing yesterday in another Malaysian state, one controlled by the Barisan Nasional (BN), after the ruler of Perlis appointed a new menteri besar (MB), ignoring the incumbent who was endorsed by the Prime Minister.

Raja Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail appointed state assemblyman Md Isa Sabu despite the fact that Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim had already been given a letter of appointment by Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi.

The ruler said the appointment took effect immediately as he was satisfied with Dr Md Isa's ability to command support from a majority of the state assemblymen.

In a statement, the ruler said this was in accordance with the state Constitution, which required him to appoint someone who commanded the trust of many to head the state executive council.

Datuk Seri Shahidan's reappointment had been delayed by a protracted public spat with political rivals. He referred to the possibility of external interference with regard to the appointment yesterday.

'This involves a lot of lies being told and agreements being broken,' he told reporters outside the palace as he rushed out on his way to Friday prayers.

Datuk Seri Shahidan, who has held the position of MB since 1995, did not elaborate but it was widely believed that he could be referring to the rivalry with Umno secretary-general and Perlis politician Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad. Dr Md Isa is said to belong to his camp. Since last year, Datuk Seri Radzi has repeatedly called for the former MB to step down and the two have been seen quarrelling in public.

The Perlis ruler's younger brother, local politician Datuk Seri Syed Razlan Jamalullail, has also been linked to the MB's post.

Both Datuk Seri Shahidan and Datuk Seri Syed Razlan's names were proposed amid talk that a deal had been struck for a mid-term change in the state leadership. Instead, Datuk Seri Syed Razlan was removed from the Arau parliamentary seat, and Datuk Seri Shahidan replaced him with his own brother Datuk Ismail Kassim.

The Perlis prince was demoted to a state seat, a move which may also not have earned the former MB any points with the palace.

Yesterday, when asked to comment, Prime Minister Abdullah simply said he had handed to Datuk Seri Shahidan the letter enabling his appointment as the MB of Perlis.

Malaysia's constitutional monarchs have not hesitated to wield their authority amid uncertainties since Saturday's election.

BN-ruled Terengganu still has not sworn in its MB as well. There is widespread talk that former MB Idris Jusoh may be dropped because he has apparently fallen out of favour with the Sultan for being disrespectful.

In Terengganu, invited guests and journalists were left baffled when they turned up at the palace on Monday only to be told that the swearing-in ceremony had been postponed indefinitely.

Elsewhere, Johor MB Abdul Ghani Othman is expected to be sworn in soon. There were also no problems in appointing the state chiefs in the other BN-ruled states of Pahang, Negeri Sembilan and Malacca.