Md Isa set to be MB of Perlis

By MANJIT KAUR

manjit@thestar.com.my

KANGAR: The person who will be sworn in as Perlis Mentri Besar will be known earliest by today – and the post is likely to go to Bintong assemblyman Datuk Dr Md Isa Sabu.

According to a reliable source, Dr Md Isa would get to retain his appointment as mentri besar by the Raja of Perlis, with the swearing-in ceremony expected to take place either at 5pm today or the latest by tomorrow.

The source said the nine Perlis assemblymen who are currently in Kuala Lumpur would return to Perlis today if all went well.

The nine, including Dr Md Isa, have been in Kuala Lumpur as they were summoned to seek an audience with the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail at Istana Siraj and also to meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Putrajaya.

A welcoming ceremony for Dr Md Isa is expected today. Busloads of supporters have also planned to greet him at the airport in Alor Star when he arrives by flight from Kuala Lumpur.

The source said Dr Md Isa received the apointment letter as mentri besar from the Raja of Perlis last Friday.

Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, who arrived back in Kangar from Kuala Lumpur early Saturday morning, left for the federal capital at midnight the same day to meet top Umno leaders.

Shahidan declined to meet reporters when he returned on Saturday.

It was reported yesterday that the tug-of-war for the Perlis Mentri Besar’s job gained momentum, with over 32,000 people petitioning for Shahidan to be retained, while those supporting the Ruler’s choice, Dr Md Isa, have put up more than 140 banners all over the state capital.

While the Raja of Perlis has named Dr Md Isa as the new Perlis Mentri Besar, Shahidan had received a letter of appointment for the post from the Prime Minister.

Coffeeshop talk here revealed that the local folk wanted development in the state and it did not matter to them who would be made the mentri besar.

A group of men in their 30s were heard talking: “It does not matter if it is Shahidan or Dr Md Isa. We want to see development and job opportunities. That is all.”