Perikatan will form new Perak govt, I am still MB for now, says Ahmad Faizal

IPOH: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Umno and PAS have joined hands to form the new Perak state government, says Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

The Perak Mentri Besar said 32 assemblymen will now be aligned to Perikatan Nasional, following the footsteps of the Federal Government.

During the press conference Ahmad Faizal also announced that Tualang Sekah assemblyman Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohd Radzi, a former Umno exco member turned Pakatan Harapan-friendly independent, had joined Bersatu.

He also announced that PKR exco member Datuk Abdul Yunus Jamahari, the Kuala Kurau assemblyman, is also now a Bersatu member.

“I am very sorry that the media and the people of Perak had to wait for so long before the announcement was made.

“But in order to have a more stable government, we must not rush.

“People will say I am a traitor, but is an open secret that some who were sitting in the exco line-up (Pakatan) had intentions to bring the MB down, ” he told a press conference at a hotel here on Monday (March 9).

Among those present at the press conference were state Umno chairman Datuk Saarani Mohamad, state PAS commissioner Razman Zakaria, former Umno Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir, assemblymen, and supporters of all three parties.

Perikatan Perak consists of 25 Umno representatives, three from PAS and four Bersatu members now. There are a total of 59 state seats.

On whether he (Ahmad Faizal) would still be the Mentri Besar, he said that for now, he would still helm the post.

“The leaders of the three parties will submit the names of the Mentri Besar of their choice to the Sultan of Perak.

“Thus all of us will follow and adhere to the decision of the Sultan, ” he added.

Saarani said the process had been carried out accordingly.

“It is better late than never, ” he said in response to why it took them so long to form the state government.