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POLITICAL tensions within Perikatan Nasional have intensified after Perlis Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah declared he would dissolve the state legislative assembly if PAS assemblymen proceed with a no-confidence motion against him during the upcoming state sitting.
The warning comes amid growing signs of internal friction between Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), raising the possibility of fresh political instability in Perlis despite the coalition remaining in power.
According to reports, Abu Bakar said he would have no alternative but to seek dissolution of the assembly should attempts be made to remove him from office.
The Kuala Perlis assemblyman stressed that the current Perlis administration had been formed following a political transition and said the Raja of Perlis had previously entrusted him with preserving the stability of the coalition government after his appointment as Menteri Besar.
“However, if undesirable things happen (a vote of no confidence), I have no choice but to dissolve the state assembly. If it happens, or even if it is likely to happen, I will make that decision because there is no other option.
“If there is any move to table a no-confidence vote during the sitting later, then we dissolve the assembly. What is the problem? As a politician, I have never known fear,” Malay Mail cited him saying after officiating the Malam Citra Warna Kuala Perlis 2026 event in Kangar.
The Perlis state assembly is scheduled to convene from June 3 to 5, with mounting speculation that six PAS assemblymen may attempt to challenge Abu Bakar’s leadership during the sitting.
The looming confrontation follows sharp remarks by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, who accused Bersatu of betraying the spirit of cooperation within Perikatan Nasional.
The Marang Member of Parliament alleged that Bersatu had previously supported efforts to remove a PAS menteri besar in Perlis and said the party’s leadership would determine its next political course of action in the state.
The escalating dispute has intensified scrutiny on the fragile balance of power within Perlis PN, particularly as PAS reassesses its political cooperation with Bersatu ahead of Malaysia’s 16th General Election.
Political tensions had already surfaced earlier when six PAS assemblymen publicly demanded an explanation from Abu Bakar over the postponement of the Perlis state assembly sitting originally scheduled for April 21 to 23.
The group was led by Mohd Shukri Ramli and included Muhammad Azmir Azizan, Asrul Aimran Abd Jalil, Razali Saad, Wan Badariah Wan Saad and Haziq Asyraf Dun.
Despite mounting speculation, Abu Bakar denied claims that the postponement was linked to fears of being removed from office.
He also insisted the Perikatan Nasional administration in Perlis remained stable despite increasingly open disagreements between PAS and Bersatu leaders at the national level.
“We in Perlis PN continue to maintain brotherhood and, whatever happens, political dynamics can shift over time.
“However, Perlis remains under the PN government,” he said.
The developments are being closely watched as a potential indicator of broader strains within the opposition coalition, particularly amid PAS’s growing assertiveness and ongoing negotiations over political influence, state leadership and electoral strategy ahead of the next national polls. - May 23, 2026
