IPOH: The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah today consented to the formation of a coalition government between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the state.
Perak National Council member Tan Sri Annuar Zaini said the sultan also consented for BN's Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad to be appointed as menteri besar.
Annuar said Saarani and Perak DAP vice-chairman Dr Abdul Aziz Bari, who appeared on behalf of Perak PH, had been granted an audience with Sultan Nazrin at Istana Kinta at 12.30pm today.
"Saarani with Aziz Bari met the Sultan of Perak and they presented that BN has nine state seats and PH has 24 state seats, making it altogether 33 state seats.
"They also proposed a menteri besar's name which is Saarani for the sultan's consideration," Annuar told a press conference outside the Istana Kinta compound here, today.
Annuar said the sultan also summoned Perak Perikatan Nasional (PN) secretary Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharudin and Pas Perak commissioner Razman Zakaria. PN had won 26 state seats in Perak on Saturday, which was the most state seats by any coalition in the state.
"To be fair to all, the sultan summoned the PN representatives, which were Razman Zakaria and Zainol Fadzi, whose (coalition) won 26 state seats in Perak.
"Both admitted that they didn't have an anchor to form a state government and according to the state constitution, those with majority seats form the state government.
"Since there is no dispute voiced by PN, the sultan is satisfied with the number and whatever presented by the BN and PH, and they have presented the menteri besar's name, which is the Kota Tampan (assemblyman), Saarani," he said.
As such, Annuar said the sultan consented for Saarani to be appointed as Perak Menteri Besar and that a swearing-in ceremony will be held at Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar at 5.30pm today.
Earlier, Saarani said nine BN candidates who won in the GE15 had no objection after the party decided to form a government with PH.
In the GE15 on Saturday, PN won 26 seats, PH won 24 seats and BN took nine seats out of the 59-seat state assembly. A total of 30 seats are required for a simple majority to form the Perak government.
In terms of parliamentary constituencies, which total 24 in Perak, BN suffered a hefty loss after it only secured three out of the 24 parliamentary seats.