PH or PAS would win Perlis if a snap election is called: Analyst

KANGAR: A political scientist is confident that Pakatan Harapan or PAS can win Perlis in the event a fresh state election is called if the relevant authorities cannot resolve the almost one-month long political imbroglio.
Prof James Chin, who lectures at the University of Tasmania, said the voters in the country's smallest state are reckoned to likely support the new governing coalition of Pakatan in light of what has happened nationally.
Hence, he said that Barisan Nasional (BN) should think twice about prolonging the present dispute over who should be the new Mentri Besar.
Perlis is currently the only state without a sworn-in state government, despite Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man having been anointed by the state palace on Thursday.
"I do not think there would be a snap (state) election as Pakatan will win. The best solution is for the new Mentri Besar to sort out his troubles with the state Umno leadership," said Chin in an interview.
Chin said that for a snap election to be held, the present stand-off between Umno and the state palace needs to continue for a third week.
"If the issue remains unresolved by next week, then the palace may not have the choice but to call for an election. Perlis Umno would be foolish to push the state Ruler into a corner," added Chin.
"If a snap election is likely held, the winner would either be PAS or Pakatan."
In the last general election, BN won 10 out of the 15 state seats and two out of the three Parliament seats.
In another development, hundreds of people showed up in Beseri today to show support for the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Syed Jamalullail following the dispute with the state Umno leadership.
Perlis Umno liaison chairperson Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim had called for his party to sack Azlan from the party for allegedly accepting his appointment without approval from the party. As a result, nine of the 10 BN backbenchers were absent during the swearing-in ceremony at Istana Arau.
In the last 72 hours, Umno leaders have expressed dismay over the conduct of Shahidan, reportedly calling for him to resign from the party.
Days after the election, Shahidan had mooted the Tambun Tulang assemblyperson Datuk Ismail Kassim as the recommended mentri besar.
Ismail happens to be the younger brother of Shahidan.