KANGAR: A former senator has hit out at Perlis Umno Youth chief, Syed Atif Ayed Abu Bakar, over the latter’s statement on the on-going Perlis Menteri Besar crisis.
Ramli Sharif disagreed with Atif, who had previously said that the crisis in Perlis could be averted if the State Perlis Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim had knowledge on the party’s choice of Perlis Menteri Besar candidate.
Ramli said it was not an urgent need for Umno top leadership to inform Shahidan on their pick for Menteri Besar post, who is Datuk Seri Azlan Man.
“Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein are now carrying out the duties of the BN president and deputy president respectively.
“Based on the hierarchy, their posts are higher compared to Shahidan’s current position.
“I believed it is not necessary for the two leaders (Zahid and Hishammuddin) to make known the decision made by the party top leadership to the state BN chairman,” Ramli said when met at the Putra Regency Hotel here on Saturday.
He urged Shahidan to accept and concede to the decision made by the party’s top leadership on the appointment of Azlan as the Perlis Menteri Besar.
“Shahidan needs to realise his boundaries and duties as the Perlis Umno liaison committee chairman, which is to coordinate party movement at the state level.
“Having that said, the state leadership has to respect the decision made by the party’s top leadership.
“Instead of making his own decision, let alone before he tried to dismiss one's membership in the party,” he said.
He also urged Shahidan and the nine Barisan Nasional state assemblymen, who boycotted the swearing-in ceremony of the Perlis Menteri Besar, to apologise to the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail.
“They should personally tender their apology to Raja of Perlis and the Menteri Besar for making such folly.
“If they refuse to accept such development (appointment of Azlan as Menteri Besar), they should relinquish their post as state assemblymen and make way for a state election.
“I shudder that the people in the state will rebel against the action of the assemblymen, which has marred the party’s and state’s reputation,” he said.