DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang and Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin believe that conducting a fresh election in Perlis is one way to resolve the ongoing crisis in the state.

"One way to resolve the unseemly constitutional crisis in Perlis is for (Perlis menteri besar) Azlan (Man) to request the Raja of Perlis to dissolve the Perlis state assembly to pave the way for a fresh state general election," said Lim in a statement today.

This is in the wake of Perlis being plunged into political turmoil after Azlan was sacked from Umno just hours after being sworn in.

Perlis Umno chief Shahidan Kassim and nine BN state assemblypersons had refused to back Azlan and had boycotted the swearing-in ceremony.

Although BN won 10 out of 15 state assembly seats in Perlis in the general election, Lim believes that fresh polls will likely see a change of government in the state.

"The outcome of a new Perlis state assembly election might be another state falling under the rule of Pakatan Harapan to implement its agenda to save and rebuild Malaysia."

This, said Lim, is because the 47,000 voters who had voted for Umno/BN would have realised the enormity of the 1MDB scandal.

"(Meanwhile) the 31,000 voters who voted for PAS candidates would have the opportunity to realise that the 'kingmaker' agenda of the PAS national leadership was to prop up a notorious global kleptocrat Najib Abdul Razak to continue as prime minister of Malaysia."

Asri echoed Lim's views, saying in a Facebook post today that 1MDB and other issues could perhaps become a guide to Perlis voters to "re-evaluate" their choices. 

He said fresh polls appeared to be one possible solution to satisfy everyone, and invited candidates "of quality who had 'lost' in other states" to contest in Perlis.

"Perhaps this way, Perlis will be able to get the best candidates," Asri said.

Perlis PAS ready for any possibilities

Perlis PAS, meanwhile, hit out at Shahidan for going against the Raja of Perlis' decision in the matter.

"This shows how he does not respect the royal institution and the Raja of Perlis.

"To find solutions in the matter, Perlis PAS hopes that everyone will not be hasty in the matter and gives his or her full trust to the Raja of Perlis," said Perlis PAS commissioner Mohd Shukri Ramli.

The Sanglang state assemblyperson added that Perlis PAS was also ready for any possibilities including fresh elections in the state.

Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail yesterday said that he did not appoint Ismail Kassim, who is also Shahidan's brother, as Perlis menteri besar because he feared that he would become a "puppet controlled by external factors".

This was believed to be a veiled swipe at Shahidan whom the monarch said should have contested a state seat if he wanted to be menteri besar.

Ismail last night, however, denied that he was a mere puppet and withdrew his name as a menteri besar candidate.

He also urged the Raja of Perlis to pick someone who is neither him nor Azlan instead.