Saturday March 15, 2008
Ruler picks Md Isa as Perlis MB
Reports by SIRA HABIBU, MANJIT KAUR, RAPHAEL WONG, R.S.N. MURALI and TEH ENG HOCK
KUALA LUMPUR: The Raja of Perlis Raja Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail has named Bintong assemblyman Datuk Dr Md Isa Sabu as the new Perlis Mentri Besar.
Md Isa's appointment came as a surprise because Perlis Barisan Nasional chief Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim had received the letter of appointment to be mentri besar from Barisan chief Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
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Faithful lot: Supporters waiting for Shahidan outside his house in Jalan Kolam, Kangar, last night. |
The announcement was made at the Istana Siraj in Jalan Eaton here. Abdullah had given Shahidan his letter of appointment on Tuesday.
When contacted, Dr Md Isa said he had no idea of the decision prior to yesterday's announcement.
“It is a surprise, but a pleasant one. I am grateful, and it is an honour. I never lobbied for it. I never lobbied to be a state assemblyman, nor Mentri Besar, but I accept it,” he added.
At the Istana Siraj yesterday, Shahidan spent almost an hour with Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin. He arrived at 11.45am.
Shahidan then spoke to reporters for a few minutes before driving away.
Barely 10 minutes after Shahidan had left, Pauh assemblyman Datuk Seri Syed Razlan Syed Putra Jamalullail, arrived.
He spent about 30 minutes at the palace.
Syed Razlan, the younger brother of Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, was one of the names which had earlier been touted as being in contention for the post of mentri besar. He did not speak to reporters.
At 2.30pm, the Ruler’s private secretary Moh Adib Zakaria issued the announcement on Md Isa's appointment.
At the same time, after the Friday prayers, Shahidan entered the Prime Minister's office in Putrajaya and left two hours later, saying that he had to meet Abdullah at his residence later.
He entered the gates of Seri Perdana at 6.40pm and left about two hours after.
Later in Kangar, about 3,000 people gathered outside Shahidan's house to pledge their support for him.
The group signed a petition before they left.
Related Stories:
Shahidan believes Radzi and Azmi behind it
Raja of Perlis has the right to pick MB
PM: Recommendation letter handed to Shahidan
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