Perlis rep : PM vows to solve MB crisis soon
Malaysiakini.com
Mar 15, 2008

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had promised to resolve the issue over the appointment of the Perlis menteri besar as soon as possible.

Mat Rawi Kassim, the state assemblyman for Beseri, said the prime minister would have discussions with the Perlis Istana on the matter.

abdullah ahmad badawi pak lah 110907According to Bernama, he said Abdullah had asked all the BN Perlis state assemblymen to return to the state and discharge their duties as elected representatives.

Earlier, Abdullah met with 10 Perlis BN assemblymen for about 45 minutes at the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya.

Among the assemblymen was Dr Md Isa Sabu (Bintong) whom the Raja of Perlis Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail yesterday appointed as the new menteri besar of Perlis in place of Shahidan Kassim to whom Abdullah had given the letter of appointment as menteri besar.

Md Isa declined to be interviewed.

Asked when would the decision be made regarding the appointment of the new menteri besar, Mat Rawi said this is up to the prime minister.

shahidan kassimHe also said the assemblymen have no intention of holding any discussions with Shahidan regarding this issue.

Don't pressure PM

In another development, Dewan Negara president Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh described as "most inappropriate" the attempts by certain quarters to pressure Abdullah to step down.

"It's most inappropriate as it compounds the problem, it pushes the nation more towards crisis. It would even make Umno weaker," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Abdul Hamid dismissed arguments that all problems would be solved if Abdullah steps down.

"That's wishful thinking," he said, adding that he sympathised with the prime minister over the challenges that he had to tackle now.

Furthermore, he said, Abdullah had received the support from all senior party leaders to continue leading the country.

On the controversy over the appointment of menteris besar of states like Perlis and Terengganu, Abdul Hamid, who is also a former menteri besar of Perlis, said the person named by the party leader should be the one holding the post.

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