KANGAR: Perlis PAS commissioner Mohd Shukri Ramli has been tipped to be the new Mentri Besar.
As the top party man in the state, the 66-year-old former teacher is the most likely choice to helm the state, sources said.
They said senior leaders from Perikatan Nasional have sent an appointment letter containing Shukri's name to the palace here.
The source said Mohd Shukri's swearing-in ceremony could be held as early as Tuesday (Nov 22) if the recommendation is accepted by Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail.
Shukri was a schoolteacher from 1985 to 2013 before going into politics, contesting the Sanglang state seat in the 13th General Election.
He defended it in 2018 and again in GE15, this time fending off three challengers from Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan and Parti Warisan to garner 5,111 or 49% of votes cast for a majority of 3,355.
Perikatan - which made a major haul in Perlis - bagged all three parliamentary seats and 14 state seats. Gan Ay Ling took a solitary seat for Pakatan Harapan in Indera Kayangan.
When contacted on Monday (Nov 21), Universiti Utara Malaysia political lecturer Prof Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani said it was now up to the Perlis palace to decide.
"From what I heard, only one name was submitted to the palace," he said.
Prof Mohd Azizuddin said the palace might ask the coalition to submit a list of names to choose from, but otherwise the process should go smoothly as Perikatan Nasional has an overwhelming majority in the state assembly.
