Asri said holding a fresh election was the best way to satisfy all parties, adding that recent developments connected to state fund 1MDB might also affect the decision of Perlis voters.

“New candidates and people of high calibre can be chosen from all sides, and any winners who ‘lost’ elsewhere may be able to contest here in Perlis,” he said.

The political dilemma in Perlis erupted following the May 9 general election, where Barisan Nasional (BN) won 10 of the 15 state assembly seats but failed to elect a menteri besar agreeable to all quarters.

The Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalulail, accepted Azlan, and the Bintong assemblyman was sworn in for a second term yesterday.

However, none of the other nine BN assemblymen attended the ceremony, sparking outrage from Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin.

Shortly after the swearing-in ceremony, state Umno chairman Shahidan Kassin, who is also a former Perlis menteri besar, fired Azlan from the party.

He also criticised Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin for allegedly interfering with the state administration, while saying he had sacrificed “body and soul” to assure BN’s victory