KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional (PN) will form the new government of Perak, its Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu said today.
Speaking at a press conference at the Casuarina @ Meru hotel, Ahmah Faizal said that an agreement to form a new coalition was reached after Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) held a discussion with Umno and Pas – the three component parties of PN.
"(This followed) two assemblymen from PKR, Datuk Abdul Yunus Jamhari (Kuala Kurau) and Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohammed Radzi (Tualang Sekah), joined Bersatu,” he said.
Ahmad Faizal, who stressed that he is still the Menteri Besar, added that the new government will comprise 32 assemblymen.
"This new coalition consists of 25 Umno assemblymen, three Pas assemblymen and four Bersatu assemblymen. With new figure, Perak will form a new government," he said.
Ahmad Faizal revealed that the new coalition will propose several candidates for the Menteri Besar position to the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.
"We will support whoever is selected (as Menteri Besar) by the Sultan of Perak.
"We will immediately contact the palace after this press conference to seek an audience with the Sultan (on the matter)," he said.
On the exco line-up, Ahmad Faizal said that the parties will sit down to discuss the matter after their meeting with Sultan Nazrin.
"We will then present the list to the ruler,” he added.
Ahmad Faizal also addressed the Perak people during the press conference, which was also attended by Umno chairman Datuk Saarani Mohamad and Pas Perak commissioner Razman Zakaria.
“I would like to apologise to Perakians who have been waiting in anticipation (on the status of the state government)," he said, adding that he appreciates the dedication of civil servants who are continuing to carry out their duties.
Citing hashtag #kekaltenang, Ahmad Faizal praised Perakians and state government staff for calmly accepting and allowing the political transition to be conducted.
More to come