Two top Umno leaders had an audience today with the raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra, at Istana Arau, believed to be on the issue of the appointment of the Perlis menteri besar.

Umno acting president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and acting deputy president Hishammuddin Hussein were seen entering the palace compound in an MPV, and leaving about 20 minutes later.

BN retained Perlis in the general election on May 9 when it won 10 of the 15 state seats, but the menteri besar has yet to be appointed.

On May 18, all the 10 BN state assemblypersons had an audience with Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin.

Earlier, on May 12, Perlis Umno Liaison Committee chairman Shahidan Kassim reportedly presented three names for Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin to select the menteri besar.

The issue has prolonged for 13 days up to today. After the general election in 2008, it took Perlis up to two weeks to settle the appointment of the menteri besar.

- Bernama