Umno considering three candidates for Perak MB
Perak Umno is considering three possible candidates to become menteri besar, according to party sources.
The source said Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will be making a decision tonight on whether to nominate Perak party chief Saarani Mohamad, former menteri besar Zambry Kadir or Rungkup assemblyperson Shahrul Zaman Yahya.
Perak Umno leaders were tight-lipped about who would be their candidate for menteri besar after a meeting in Ipoh tonight.
Party sources, however, told Malaysiakini that three names are on the table.
The sources said Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will be making a decision tonight on whether to nominate Perak party chief Saarani Mohamad, former menteri besar Zambry Kadir or Rungkup assemblyperson Shahrul Zaman Yahya.
"It looks to be leaning towards Saarani as Umno state chief, but Zambry has the experience," one Umno source told Malaysiakini.
Zahid declined to speak to reporters after leaving the meeting at the state Umno headquarters. Other leaders also refused to comment.
Perak is in need of a new menteri besar after Bersatu's Ahmad Faizal Azumu was ousted via a vote of confidence in the state legislature yesterday.
Perak Umno was unhappy with Faizal, especially over the unilateral appointment of an Umno assemblyperson as his political secretary.
However, it is unclear whether Umno has the numbers to form the next state government.
The party has 25 state seats. Thirty is needed to form a state government.
Bersatu - which has 5 seats - is slighted over the move to remove Faizal, while PAS - which has 3 seats - has said it would not join in efforts to form the next state government.
If Umno can't secure enough support from Umno and PAS, it will have to reach across the aisle to cobble support from Pakatan Harapan.
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