Perak Umno ‘can work with Bersatu and PAS’

IPOH: The Perak state government is widely expected to maintain its status quo.

Perak Umno chief Datuk Saarani Mohamad (pic) said the party was willing to work with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and PAS to form the state government once again.

In a WhatsApp message yesterday, Saarani answered with a simple “yes” when asked whether Umno was willing to work with both parties again.

A source from Bersatu said Perak Perikatan Nasional was still intact.

He said Perikatan was working with Umno and other parties at the federal level, as well as many other states.

“Of course we are still with Perikatan, ” the source said via a WhatsApp message yesterday.

Asked if it was true that Bersatu had set terms that Rungkup assemblyman Datuk Shahrul Zaman Yahya must be appointed as the mentri besar if Umno required their support to form the state government, the source said that was not true and no such terms were underlined.

Saarani had asked everyone to stop speculating about which parties Umno would work with to form the state government.

He said several statements had been issued in the last few days over the political crisis in the state.

“Umno views the speculations very seriously, along with rumours issued via statements outside the party’s official channel.

“Therefore, all parties are asked to remain calm and not make assumptions following such statements.

“Any official statement regarding the development of the process of forming the state government will be issued through the liaison committee, ” he said in a statement yesterday.

Rumour has it that Umno will work with Pakatan Harapan to form the state government, while there are also assumptions that they will continue to work with Bersatu and PAS.

Shahrul said earlier that all 25 Umno and Barisan Nasional assemblymen had nominated Saarani for the post.

On Friday, Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, who is also Chenderiang assemblyman, lost the motion of confidence during the state assembly sitting.

Of the 59 assemblymen, Faizal got 10 votes in favour while 48 voted against him with one abstention.

The motion was moved by Umno’s Pengkalan Baru assemblyman Datuk Abdul Manaf Hashim.