IPOH: The Perak political crisis reached a stalemate after Umno yesterday failed to demonstrate that it had enough support to command a simple majority for its choice for menteri besar.
The crisis, triggered by the ousting of Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu as menteri besar in the State Legislative Assembly sitting last Friday, had appeared to be on the road to resolution on Monday, with all signs pointing to a relatively speedy leadership transition.
An Umno Supreme Council meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Monday night saw Perak Umno chairman Datuk Saarani Mohamad named as the candidate
for menteri besar. Expectations heightened after it was revealed that Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had been granted an audience with Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah in the morning.
Sources had indicated that no fewer than 26 Perak assemblymen had signed a statutory declaration in support of Saarani for the menteri besar post, with one signatory a Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia assemblyman.
Insiders had said the need for support from four more reps to reach the 30 required for a simple majority would be a formality.
But all optimism that the leadership crisis would be resolved by yesterday eventually faded.
Zahid, following his audience with the sultan at Istana Kinta yesterday, said he had submitted the party's candidate to the ruler.
He declined to reveal how many names were submitted, but the Bagan Datuk member of parliament told reporters that the candidate had "more than enough" majority to secure the post.
"Let Sultan Nazrin decide and we shall wait for an official statement. I am confident that the candidate has more than enough majority and support."
Zahid repeated his stand that as much as possible, the new state government would retain the cooperation between Bersatu and Pas under Perikatan Nasional.
The sultan also granted an audience to Saarani, who was accompanied by former menteri besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir.
Clues indicating that the situation was less than straightforward emerged after the sultan's audience with state opposition leaders from DAP, PKR and Parti Amanah Negara.
Following their audience with the ruler, Perak PKR chairman Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak told reporters that "the situation was very fluid".
Perak Amanah chairman Datuk Asmuni Awi said Pakatan Harapan did not submit a candidate for the menteri besar post.
Perak DAP chairman Nga Kor Ming said the party would cooperate with Umno only if other PH component parties were involved.
Nga previously said DAP was prepared to work with any party, including Umno and Barisan Nasional, to form the next state government.
He said Perak DAP's readiness to work with Umno was based on the main principle of forming a multi-racial government that was clean, had integrity and was guided by the principle of good governance.
"A written agreement must be signed if the proposal for this cooperation reaches that stage."
A surprise addition to those meeting the sultan was Bersatu's Titi Serong assemblyman, Hasnul Zulkarnain Abd Munaim.
Hasnul was the only assemblyman who abstained from voting during the vote of confidence at the state assembly that led to Faizal's ouster as menteri besar.
When approached by reporters outside Istana Kinta, he declined to disclose details, saying only that he was summoned to discuss the appointment of the menteri besar.
Perak Bersatu said the party did not receive any official invitation for an audience with the sultan yesterday.
Faizal, who is state Bersatu chairman and party deputy president, said the palace did not summon the party for an audience.
Perak Pas caused a stir after it emerged that it declined an invitation for an audience with the sultan.
Perak Pas commissioner Razman Zakaria was scheduled to have an audience with the sultan at 3pm. A source later confirmed that the party's central leadership had instructed state representatives not to accept the invitation.
Pas had, following Faizal's ouster as menteri besar, said it would not join the new state government and would serve as the opposition. Efforts to seek clarification from Pas' central leadership on the directive were unsuccessful at press time.
Datuk Seri Mohd Annuar Zaini, who is a member of the Perak Dewan Negara, later confirmed that no party had the majority to form the state government.
He said negotiations between PN and PH were ongoing.
"No party has managed to convince the Sultan of Perak that they have a simple majority to form the state government.
"At 3.15pm today (yesterday), Perak PH leaders informed the sultan about the status of negotiations (on the formation of a new state government).
"After meeting them, the sultan also granted an audience to Perak Umno chairman Saarani, who also informed the sultan of the status of negotiations with other parties.
"Since no one is able to convince the Sultan of Perak that they have a simple majority, we shall wait until they manage to convince the sultan on the matter."