Perak Politics: KJ hopes UMNO's talks with PAS, Bersatu expedited

KUALA LUMPUR: Rembau Member of Parliament, Khairy Jamaluddin hopes that negotiations involving UMNO, PAS and Bersatu can be expedited to resolve the political impasse in Perak.

He said the talks are important to ensure the smooth administration of the state besides it being in line with the decision of the UMNO Supreme Council Special Meeting on Monday night that the Perak Perikatan Nasional (PN) government should continue to be defended.

In line with that, he said, UMNO will only establish a government in Perak with its friends in PN.

“We hope that the Bersatu, Pas and UMNO talks can be held as soon as possible to ensure the smooth administration of the state.

"UMNO's decision (means) to reject cooperation with other parties and remain with our friends in PN so that it can be presented to the Sultan of Perak," he told Astro AWANI last night when asked whether it was possible for UMNO to establish cooperation with DAP to form the Perak state government.

Recently, a political crisis in Perak erupted following its former Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu failing in a motion of confidence in him at the Perak State Assembly (DUN) sitting on Dec 4.

The motion did not get the support of the majority of DUN members, including from UMNO, which saw him get only 10 votes in support, 48 against while one other abstained.

Yesterday, UMNO President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said UMNO was optimistic that the new Perak Menteri Besar candidate from the party had the majority support.

He went further to say he was confident that the support garnered was “more than enough”.

However, it turned out that no political parties had a simple majority, let alone a convincing one.

Perak Dewan Negara member, Datuk Seri Annuar Zaini said the situation thus failed to convince the Sultan of Perak to appoint the 14th Menteri Besar.