Perikatan seeks talks with Perlis MB Abu Bakar snookered by two-term Bersatu suspension

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 — Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders are seeking direct talks with Perlis Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah to resolve the political crisis in the state, following his suspension from Bersatu for two terms. PN secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan has formally written to Abu Bakar requesting an urgent meeting to address the fallout from the disciplinary sanction and preserve the stability of the administration.

Despite not being part of the state administration, PAS still backs the state government, according to Takiyuddin, who also serves as PAS secretary-general. The disciplinary board of Bersatu has frozen Abu Bakar's party rights, limiting his options to join another party without being seen as party-hopping. Abu Bakar, who heads the Kangar Bersatu division, was suspended after being found guilty of constitutional breaches by the party's disciplinary tribunal.

The crisis arose after a royal intervention in June, which allowed Abu Bakar to continue governing Perlis until the end of the current state legislative assembly term. The suspension came after a contentious internal revolt in December, when five Bersatu assemblymen allied with three PAS lawmakers to withdraw confidence from PAS's Menteri Besar, Mohd Shukri Ramli.

This led to the reshuffling of the administration, with Bersatu replacing Mohd Shukri with Abu Bakar, causing PAS to withdraw from the state executive council entirely.