Perlis Umno should not rely solely on the fallout between Bersatu and PAS over the appointment of the menteri besar to regain control of the state, a party youth leader has warned.
Perlis Umno Youth information chief Azhar Sudin said the crisis that erupted late last year could give Umno an edge in the 16th General Election (GE16), but only if the party adopts a strategy that resonates with voters.
“The Perlis Perikatan Nasional crisis presents a strong opportunity, but Umno must take a more appropriate approach so that it is accepted by the people,” he told FMT on the sidelines of the 2025 Umno general assembly.
Azhar said Umno should contest independently and capitalise on the turmoil within Perlis PN to secure at least eight state seats.
The political crisis saw the menteri besar position shift from PAS to Bersatu after Shukri Ramli resigned on Dec 25 last year, citing health reasons. Bersatu’s Abu Bakar Hamzah was subsequently sworn in as his replacement.
Eight PN assemblymen, including three from PAS, were reported to have signed statutory declarations withdrawing support for Shukri, costing him his simple majority in the state assembly.
Following this, PAS suspended the memberships of Saad Seman (Chuping), Anwar Ismail (Bintong) and Ridzuan Hashim (Guar Sanji), while Perlis state assembly speaker Rus’ele Eizan announced that their seats had been vacated.
The crisis also sparked criticism of Bersatu by several PAS leaders, and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin stepped down as Perikatan Nasional chairman effective Jan 1, leaving the position vacant.
Azhar said Umno should focus on contesting solo against PAS in the so-called SG4 states — Perlis, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan — which are currently governed by PAS.
“In these states, Umno’s real opponent is PAS, not Pakatan Harapan,” he said.
Kedah Umno communications chief Syed Mohd Johan Rizal Syed Unan Mashri echoed this view, urging the party’s central leadership to pay greater attention to the SG4 states.
“We are exhausted because we have no power at the state level, and our efforts are insufficient to advance the unity government’s agenda,” he said, noting that Umno currently holds no seats in Kedah.
He warned that without stronger support, Kedah risked becoming a long-term PAS stronghold similar to Kelantan, and called for political will — including leadership changes — to revive the party’s fortunes in the state.
