Umno vice-president Mohd Ali Rustam today blamed PAS and PKR for the political turmoil in the country.

batu talam nominations 170107 ali rustam The Malacca chief minister also accused the Malays in the two parties of showing the way to their non-Malay counterparts in DAP to criticise the sultans.

"All this talk against the sultans or royalties were started by these two opposition parties (PAS and PKR)," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

"They were the first to criticise the sultans. Once they started, DAP which comprises non-Muslims, also followed their footsteps.

"The Malays in these two parties showed the way to criticise the royalties and this was followed by the non-Malays in the DAP," he added.

Mohd Ali said PAS' proposal that a unity government be formed in politically-troubled states like Perak, cannot be trusted as "I am unsure if they speak the truth".

"Previously, they said they supported the royalties but if a decision taken by a royalty is against them, they start criticising the particular royalty...what kind of support is that?

"The same applies to special rights accorded to bumiputeras," he said.

"These two parties are the cause of most of the political problems in the country. They confuse people and DAP takes the upper hand in these matters.

"(DAP chairperson) Karpal Singh starts saying whatever he wants because he knows he has the backing of these two parties, comprising mostly of Malays," he added

Political turmoil

Over the weeks, Perak has been drowning in political turmoil following the collapse of the Pakatan Rakyat state government after BN stormed into power with the help of defections.

The equation tilted in favour of BN after four Pakatan Rakyat state representatives quit their respective parties, with three becoming 'BN-friendly' independents and the other rejoining Umno.

While Pakatan cried foul and demanded a fresh state elections, Perak ruler Sultan Azlan Shah however chose to endorse the BN state government.

However, Pakatan remained defiant and this paved the way for a legal battle to determine who is the legitimate menteri besar.

At the onset of the crisis, DAP stalwart and renowned lawyer Karpal incurred the wrath of Umno and other quarters when he threatened to sue the Perak sultan.

Since then, the veteran opposition leader had received death threats and live bullets as well as more than hundred police reports lodged against him.