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THE ongoing political turmoil in Perlis is the result of internal party conflicts within PAS rather than external pressures, according to Datuk Mahfuz Omar, Vice-President of Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah).
He criticised PAS President Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang’s claim that the crisis stemmed from pressures related to projects and political appointments, describing it as an attempt to divert attention from the party’s internal shortcomings.
“The unrest in Perlis did not originate from outside pressures but from dissatisfaction among PAS members themselves towards the leadership of then-Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli. This discontent has been expressed openly since late 2023 and reached its peak during the 2024 PAS Central Muktamar,” Mahfuz told reporters on Tuesday.
He added that the rejection of Mohd Shukri’s leadership was further evidenced by his team’s defeat in all local PAS leadership elections in 2025.
Mahfuz argued that PAS central leadership prioritised defending certain individuals over resolving conflicts constructively, creating space for a support crisis that ultimately led to the dismissal of several state assembly members.
“Allowing conflict to persist without a wise political resolution inevitably led to the collapse of the PAS-led state government.
“This is not a matter of external oppression, but a failure of the party’s internal management,” he said, stressing that it was the responsibility of the PAS President and central leadership to safeguard the Menteri Besar and state government from outside pressures by strengthening internal cohesion and closing gaps for political manipulation.
Mahfuz also criticised Abdul Hadi’s claims of external pressure without providing evidence, warning that such vague statements only invite speculation and confuse the public.
“Any allegations related to pressure or misconduct should be addressed through proper legal channels rather than used as political narratives to conceal internal weaknesses.
“PAS cannot continue to blame outside factors for the Perlis crisis, which is ultimately a consequence of unaddressed internal conflict,” he added.
The political upheaval in Perlis intensified after the state assembly speaker, Rus’sele Eizan, announced that three state assembly seats became unexpectedly vacant following the suspension of three PAS assemblymen who expressed a loss of confidence in Mohd Shukri.
The affected assemblymen are ADUN Chuping Saad Seman, ADUN Bintong Fakhrul Anwar Ismail, and ADUN Guar Sanji Mohd Ridzuan Hashim.
Although the Perlis State Assembly marked its three-year anniversary on 18 December, the state government deemed it necessary to hold by-elections to fill the vacant seats to ensure governmental stability.
In the 15th General Election, Perikatan Nasional won 14 seats (PAS 9, Bersatu 5), with PKR securing 1. Following the suspension of the three PAS assemblymen, the current assembly composition stands at PAS 6, Bersatu 5, and PKR 1. - December 30, 2025