KANGAR: Although three state assembly seats in Perlis have been declared vacant, the state is not about to see by-elections.
Assembly Speaker Rus’sele Eizan has informed the Election Commission that no by-elections are needed for the Chuping, Bintong and Guar Sanji state seats.
It was a U-turn from Rus’sele’s earlier stand that Perikatan Nasional’s majority may be affected if by-elections are not held.
However, it was found to no longer be the case following PAS’ decision to continue supporting the state government.
Rus’sele said Perikatan still holds 11 of the 15 seats in the assembly despite the sacking of PAS assemblymen Saad Seman (Chuping), Fakhrul Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and Mohd Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji).
“PAS remains committed to the state government. Newly-appointed Mentri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah has also given an assurance that Perikatan’s unity agenda will continue as it still holds the majority.
“Therefore, it is no longer necessary for by-elections for the three seats,” he told reporters at his office in the Seri Putra Complex yesterday.
On Monday, Rus’sele had informed the EC that the three assemblymen were no longer members of the House and that by-elections were needed to fill the vacancies.
At the time, PAS held six seats, Bersatu five and PKR one.
The trio had been sacked by their party for withdrawing support for then-mentri besar Mohd Shukri Ramli of PAS.
Rus’sele said the latest decision was in line with the decree of the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail, who urged all Perikatan assemblymen to reunite and work together.
Asked whether there could be a vote of no confidence against the new administration, Rus’sele said there was a need for harmony within the coalition.
He added that the new state exco line-up was still being worked out by the mentri besar and his administration.
On whether PAS’ central leadership had issued any directive regarding his position as the Speaker, he said no instructions had been received and that he remains in office.
In the last general election, Perikatan won 14 state seats – nine through PAS and five through Bersatu – while Pakatan Harapan, through PKR, secured one.
