Hishammuddin, who is carrying out the duties of Umno deputy president, said any decision to sack a party member must be brought to the disciplinary board, and that the outcome was up to the Supreme Council, not the state Umno liaison committee.
“Any attempts to sack Azlan as an Umno member should not happen, and we should respect the Tuanku’s decision to pick Azlan as menteri besar,” he said in a Facebook post last night, referring to Perlis Raja Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail.
“At a time when Umno is still in the process of healing, the people are watching and evaluating all our actions. The people have given the mandate to Barisan Nasional (BN) to lead in Perlis, and that trust must be carried out with full trust.
“Such a thing should not happen. All Umno leaders must be big-hearted and show exemplary leadership to win over and gain the rakyat’s confidence.”
Azlan was sworn in for a second term as menteri besar at the Istana Arau on Thursday. However, the ceremony was not attended by the other nine BN assemblymen, who had been flown from Perlis to Kuala Lumpur the night before.
This incurred the wrath of the Perlis ruler, who voiced his displeasure over their absence despite the invitation having been sent out three days earlier.
Perlis Umno chairman Shahidan Kassim held a press conference in the capital that same day, where he said Azlan would be sacked from the party.
The Perlis BN chairman also reportedly asked the Perlis ruler not to interfere in the state’s administration.