KANGAR, El Sky News – The state of Perlis is entering a significant period of political transition as PAS formally submits a nominee for the Menteri Besar post, while the State Assembly prepares to notify the Election Commission (EC) of three unexpected seat vacancies next week.
New Leadership on the Horizon
Following the resignation of Mohd Shukri Ramli as Menteri Besar on Thursday, PAS has moved swiftly to propose a successor. The party has officially presented its candidate to the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail.
The palace is currently deliberating on the nomination. An official announcement regarding the appointment and the subsequent swearing-in ceremony is expected once the Ruler provides his royal assent. This transition aims to restore administrative order following weeks of internal political friction.
Formal Notification of Vacant Seats
Parallel to the leadership change, State Assembly Speaker Rus’sele Eizan confirmed that he will formally notify the EC of “unforeseen vacancies” in the Chuping, Bintong, and Guar Sanji constituencies next week.
The vacancies arose after the memberships of three assemblymen—Saad Seman, Fakhrul Anwar Ismail, and Mohd Ridzuan Hashim—were terminated. This followed their reported withdrawal of support for the outgoing Menteri Besar, an act that triggered anti-hopping provisions under the Perlis State Constitution.
The Path to By-Elections
Although the Perlis State Assembly recently passed the three-year mark of its term (on December 18), which sometimes allows vacancies to remain unfilled, Speaker Rus’sele emphasized the necessity of holding by-elections.
“I believe there is a need for by-elections in these three areas to ensure the stability of the state government,” he stated. The final decision to trigger the polls rests with the Election Commission once the 21-day notification period is active.
State of the Government
The current political landscape in Perlis remains dominated by Perikatan Nasional (PN), which secured 14 of the 15 state seats in the 15th General Election. However, the recent expulsion of three PAS members and the resignation of the Menteri Besar have forced the coalition to re-calibrate its leadership and mandate.
Observers suggest that the appointment of a new Menteri Besar and the potential by-elections will be a litmus test for the coalition’s strength and unity in the northern state.
