New Perlis MB gets a rousing welcome
Malaysiakini.com
Mar 17, 2008
Nash Rahman

A strong crowd of about 5,000 people this morning gathered in the Perlis state capital of Kangar to welcome the menteri besar designate Dr Md Isa Sabu, who had just returned from Putrajaya. MCPX

md isa sabu and supporters in perlis 170308The Bintong state representative was later sworn in as the state’s menteri besar, replacing Tambun Tulang state assemblyperson Shahidan Kassim who has held the post since 1995.

A tag-of-war for the post has been ongoing between Shahidan and the Perlis-palace backed Md Isa after the general election in which BN won 14 out of 15 state seats.

Eight of the 14 BN state backbenchers have also given their support to Md Isa while Shahidan had a letter of appointment from BN chairperson Abdullah Ahmad Badawi supporting his appointment.

It is now believed that Abdullah, also the prime minister, has agreed with the decision of Raja of Perlis to choose Md Isa as the new menteri besar following a meeting with the ruler.

Md Isa and the eight BN state representatives were in Putrajaya yesterday after being summoned for an audience by the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail at Istana Siraj. They also met Abdullah in Putrajaya.

Also present at the gathering this morning to welcome Md Isa were eight BN state assemblypersons and the sole PAS representative, Ru'selle Ezlan.

shahidan group at putrajaya 140308 shahidan kassimBanners supporting Dr Md Isa were also put up along the main road heading towards Kangar town.

However missing were banners which were previously seen to support the reappointment of Shahidan as the menteri besar.

Md Isa told the media yesterday that his appointment was supported by the majority of BN state asembly persons in Perlis.

The representative that openly backed Md Isa were Yip Sun Onn (Adun Titi Tinggi), Mohd Rawi Kassim (Beseri), Sabry Ahmad (Santan), Abdul Jamil Saad (Sena), Dr Por Choo Chor (Indera Kayangan), Mat Hassan (Kuala Perlis), Ahmad Bakri Ali (Kayang) dan Syed Razlan Syed Putra Jamalullail (Pauh).

Swearing-in this evening?

Syed Razlan is also the younger brother of the Raja Perlis and it is learnt that he had an influential role in getting Md Isa appointed as the mentri besar.

shahidan group at putrajaya 140308 perlis groupPrior to the elections, Umno Perlis was embroiled in an internal squabble between factions led by Shahidan and, among others, Umno secretary-general Radzi Sheikh Ahmad over the choice of candidates.

Many Perlis leaders felt that the infighting in the state could only be avoided with the removal of Shahidan as the mentri besar.

The replacement candidate Md Isa is widely seen as a person who could bring together all the warring factions in the state. He has wide experience in administration, politics and education.

Dropped from the list of candidates in the 2004 general election, the 61-year-old former state executive councillor re-contested this year and won the Bintong seat, beating a PAS candidate.

The former teacher who has been in active politics since the past 30 years, polled 4,882 votes to defeat PAS’ Mohd Anuar Tahir by a majority of 2,110 votes.

His swearing-in ceremony took place today at 5pm at the palace. Fourteen of the 15 elected assemblypersons, including the lone PAS respresentative, were there. The only one missing was Shahidan. 

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