Perlis MB: Postponement not related to any vote of no confidence
KANGAR: Perlis Mentri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah has given an assurance that the state legislative assembly will sit before June 8, with the new date to be announced next week.
He said the postponement was not related to any issue of a vote of no confidence or uncertainty over support for the state government under his leadership.
“We have until June. Under the rules, the interval between the previous sitting and the next must not exceed six months. I will ensure that the state assembly will sit before June 8,” he told reporters here yesterday, as reported by Bernama.
The Perlis state assembly was originally scheduled to sit from April 21 to 23.
However, a notification letter on the postponement issued last Friday had sparked speculation.
Abu Bakar explained that the postponement was to allow the state government to further refine its administrative preparations so that the sitting could be conducted in a more orderly manner.
He pointed out that he had only assumed office as Mentri Besar on Dec 28 of last year.
In this regard, he said there was no issue of weakness in his leadership or any attempt to avoid political pressure through the postponement, adding that it formed part of his administrative approach to streamline the state government’s affairs.
“For me, in politics, we do not know the meaning of fear. There is no issue of fear or anything of that sort. Leadership has its own way, the previous leadership had its approach and my leadership as Mentri Besar has its own,” he said.
Prior to this, analysts were of the view that the postponement, without clear explanation by the Mentri Besar, has raised concerns over political instability and lack of proper leadership.
Universiti Malaya socio-political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the situation should not be dismissed as just a “technical issue” but one involving the core of democratic governance, pointing to weak political will and shortcomings in institutional integrity.
“The delay reflects the inability or incompetence of the state leadership to ensure the state assembly is conducted effectively,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Within the framework of a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy, Prof Awang said the state legislative body was not merely symbolic but a functioning institution of checks and balances that must convene regularly.
“By constitutional practice and convention, assembly sittings should be held within a reasonable period, typically not exceeding six months.
“If the delay has indeed occurred without strong justification, it could be seen as undermining good governance norms and signalling political instability or an unresolved internal crisis since the December turmoil,” he said.
Universiti Malaya’s Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub said the postponement could signal lingering instability within the state’s political leadership.
“In my opinion, the postponement of the legislative assembly sitting is a clear signal of continuing political instability in the state, that there are still threats to the position of the Mentri Besar and his government,” he said.
The meeting would have been the first since the political crisis, which ultimately saw the appointment of Abu Bakar, who is Perlis Bersatu chief, as Mentri Besar.
Abu Bakar, who is also Perlis Perikatan Nasional deputy chairman, rose to power following the resignation of PAS’ Mohd Shukri Ramli on health grounds.
