Zahid confirms majority support for Saarani as Perak MB

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today confirmed that his party’s candidate posseses the majority support of assemblymen to be appointed as the new Perak menteri besar.

Speaking after an audience with Perak’s Sultan Nazrin Shah at Istana Kinta in Ipoh, he said the ruler would announce the selected candidate soon.

This latest development implies that Umno has received the support of Bersatu and PAS to put forth Kota Tampan assemblyman Saarani Mohamad as the new MB.

“This means that the cooperation to form the state government is between Umno, Bersatu and PAS,” Zahid said.

Zahid had arrived at the palace at 10am for his audience with the sultan to submit the name of the Umno assemblyman for the post of Perak MB.

Last night, Umno leaders said the party would continue to defend the state coalition government in Perak together with PAS and Bersatu.

This put to rest speculation that the Malay party could work with Pakatan Harapan to form a new state government, following the ouster of Ahmad Faizal Azumu as menteri besar.

Zahid had earlier said Umno was open to working with PH in the event that it fails to obtain support from PAS and Bersatu, who condemned the plot against Faizal and threatened to stay out of any new state government.