By TUNKU SHAHARIAH

tsheri@thestar.com.my

PENANG: Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim has “gone overboard and shown disrespect” to the monarch by questioning the right of the ruler in the appointment of the mentri besar, said the granduncle of the Raja of Perlis, Syed Sofian Jamalullail, 74.

He said Shahidan should emulate Terengganu’s Barisan Nasional chief Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, who had said he would accept any decision made on the post of mentri besar.

“The Prime Minister was merely making his recommendation for Shahidan to be mentri besar but the final decision still has to be made by the Raja of Perlis under the state constitution,” he said.

Syed Sofian, the only son of Perlis’ fourth ruler Tuanku Syed Hamzah Jamalullail (who ruled from 1941 to 1945), retired from civil service in 1989 and was the adviser on Perlis’ protocol, culture and customs from 1994 to 1999.

“It was during that time that I had close interaction with (Perlis Mentri Besar-designate) Datuk Md Isa Sabu, when he was serving as a state executive councillor.

“Md Isa is a humble, people-oriented leader who is close to the grassroots,” he said.

Farewell: Shahidan waving to his supporters after he returned from a meeting with Abdullah recently.

Shahidan was quoted by a tabloid on Thursday as saying that he was “fed-up” of being pressured each time he planned to visit Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to get his appointment letter as mentri besar.

On Saturday, he was reported as saying that since he had been given the mandate by Abdullah to become the mentri besar, those sworn in, other than himself, were deemed as not having the backing and support of the Barisan.”