KANGAR: Political leaders should focus on strengthening Perikatan Nasional and preparing for the next general election rather than revisiting old issues, says Perlis Mentri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah.
He said unity within the coalition was crucial, noting that voters had given their mandate to Perikatan as a coalition rather than to its individual component parties.
“We received the people’s mandate through Perikatan, not through PAS or Bersatu individually. Therefore, whatever happens, we should remain with Perikatan.
“Defending what we have is more difficult than winning it in the first place because our opponents are constantly attacking us. If we keep quarrelling, we will be the ones who lose,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the state assembly meeting at Kompleks Seri Putra here yesterday.
Abu Bakar was responding to claims involving alleged statutory declarations (SDs) linked to the change in Perlis’ leadership last year.
He said the matter should not be raised again as it had already been resolved through constitutional processes and the discretion of the Raja of Perlis.
“We should focus on the 16th General Election and how Perikatan can retain its strength, rather than revisiting old issues,” he said, referring to claims by a PAS Youth leader that SDs had been signed during the political developments that led to his appointment as Mentri Besar.
Abu Bakar said he could not confirm whether any SDs existed, adding that all assemblymen had met the Raja of Perlis individually before the appointment was made.
“Only Tuanku knows what transpired because we were called in one by one, not as a group. The decision was made through the proper channels and in accordance with the laws governing the state government,” he said.
Late last year, the state government was plunged into a political crisis when eight Perikatan assemblymen – three from PAS and five from Bersatu – withdrew support for then mentri besar Mohd Shukri Ramli.
Mohd Shukri, who is from PAS, later resigned, citing health reasons.
The 15-seat state assembly currently comprises 11 Perikatan representatives – six from PAS and five from Bersatu – and PKR’s Gan Ay Ling, the sole opposition assemblyman.
Three seats – Chuping, Bintong and Guar Sanji – remain vacant after their assemblymen were sacked by PAS, with no by-elections required.
Last month, Abu Bakar said the state assembly would be dissolved if a vote of no confidence was tabled against him.
The assembly, originally scheduled to sit from April 21 to 23, was postponed before convening yesterday.
In his royal address on Wednesday, the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, expressed hope that Abu Bakar would be allowed to continue leading the state administration until the end of the current term without disruption.
