KUALA KUBU BARU: There has been no discussion of a leadership change in the Perlis government despite ongoing Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) probes into the state administration, said Pas information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari.

He said this in response to Perlis Bersatu liaison committee chief Abu Bakar Hamzah who said that the party is ready to shoulder the responsibility to lead the state government should any elected representative from the party be asked to do so.

Fadhli said all parties should instead allow the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation before any discussion about Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli's position is made.

"I think it's still too early to discuss the issue of the Perlis government leadership change.

"This is the era of the Madani government, during this era even those who were called to defend themselves could be given DNAA (discharge not amounting to acquittal) and so on.

"If we want to discuss the change of the Perlis government leadership, it's still too early, we leave it to the authorities to conduct the investigation," he said after attending the PN campaign speech, here tonight.

Last Wednesday, MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that Mohd Shukri was arrested to assist in the investigation under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 involving allegations of abuse of power.

The Perlis Pas commissioner who is also the state PN chairman, however, was released on MACC bail after nearly eight hours of questioning.

Mohd Shukri, who is also the Sanglang assemblyman, was arrested at 11am while giving a statement at the MACC Headquarters in Putrajaya.

It involves the implementation of infrastructure development projects, including repairs, maintenance, supply and services throughout Perlis since 2022.

Previously, the media reported that the son of the Perlis MB was among six individuals remanded by the MACC to assist in the investigation of forgery of claims documents worth RM600,000.

In addition, the MACC is reported to be investigating a senior leader in the northern region of the country, suspected of appointing several companies believed to have interests with him, involving a supply project estimated at RM300,000.

The leader is also suspected of appointing several companies for road repair and maintenance work involving an allocation of about RM1 million from the Chief Minister's Office, believed to have interests with the said leader's son.

Meanwhile, Bersatu Supreme Council member, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, described Abu Bakar's statement regarding the readiness to take over the state government administration from Pas as the latter's personal view.

Azmin said there were no discussions about the issue of leadership change in Perlis made by the said coalition.

He also said that every matter within PN is discussed together with all component parties and agreed upon based on the principle of togetherness.

"There is no 'big brother' practice in PN, all component parties are equal and have the right to discuss. So, that is PN, not a matter of individual views.

"I don't want to comment on individual views because with the principle we hold, it must be brought within PN at the state or central level.

"Indeed, it has not been discussed, there is no reason, (in fact) there is no issue of changing the state government in Perlis," he said.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2024/05/1046413/no-talks-perlis-leadership-change-amid-macc-investigations-says-pas