PAS and Bersatu Put Forward Separate Candidates for Perlis Mentri Besar Post

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 27: Two names have been formally submitted for consideration as the next Mentri Besar of Perlis following the resignation of Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Ramli, setting the stage for a decision by the Istana Perlis.

Sources said one candidate each from PAS and Bersatu has been proposed. PAS has endorsed Santan state assemblyman Azmir Azizan, while Bersatu is understood to have put forward Kuala Perlis assemblyman Abu Bakar Hamzah.

Azmir confirmed that he had learned about his nomination through media reports but declined to comment further. “I am attending a kenduri at the moment and only found out from the news. I have no comments for now,” he said when contacted.

PAS insiders have since confirmed that Azmir’s name was officially endorsed by the party’s central leadership and submitted for consideration to the Perlis Palace.

Separately, Perikatan Nasional chairman and Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin confirmed that Bersatu had also forwarded the name of one of its state assemblymen to Istana Perlis, though he did not disclose further details.

The leadership transition follows the resignation of Mohd Shukri on Thursday (Dec 25), which he said was due to health reasons. His departure, however, came amid political tension after eight Perlis state assemblymen, three from PAS and five from Bersatu, were reported to have signed statutory declarations withdrawing their support for him.

With both coalition partners putting forward separate candidates, attention now turns to Istana Perlis, which will decide on the appointment of the new Mentri Besar in accordance with the state constitution.