Decision on Md Isa came after ruler, PM meeting

KANGAR: Datuk Dr Md Isa Sabu is expected to be sworn in as the new menteri besar of Perlis today.

A palace insider said the Raja of Perlis had finalised the appointment after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi met Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. The insider, who declined to be named, said they had agreed on appointing Md Isa as the state's sixth menteri besar. Md Isa's appointment was also confirmed by assemblymen Abdul Jamil Saad (Sena) and Datuk Seri Syed Radzlan Putra Jamalullail (Pauh) when contacted in Kuala Lumpur.

The two were among nine assemblymen, including Md Isa, who went to see the ruler and conferred with the Barisan Nasional leadership on the menteri besar's appointment.
Md Isa is scheduled to be sworn in at Istana Arau at 5.30pm.

Yesterday, Md Isa and the other assemblymen were still in Kuala Lumpur. Most of them are expected to catch a flight today and arrive at the Sultan Abdul Halim airport in Kepala Batas, Alor Star.

More than 5,000 Umno members are expected to welcome the new menteri besar and Md Isa is due to give his first public address at the Stadium Utama here.

An aide to Md Isa, Ahmad Senapi, said Pas deputy spiritual leader Datuk Dr Haron Din had instructed party members to welcome the new menteri besar at the airport. On Saturday, Perlis Pas had thrown its support behind Md Isa, saying "it was the right time" for a change of leadership in the state.

Perlis' sole Pas assemblyman, Rus'sele Eizan (Simpang Empat), also supported Md Isa's appointment. More banners have been put up here in support of the Raja of Perlis and the new menteri besar. Police were still manning roadblocks at Istana Arau and Istana Fauzana. Police erected a tent in front of Md Isa's house in Taman Guru Jaya here.

Static police checkpoints were set up at the menteri besar's official residence in Jalan Kolam and the state Legislative Assembly Complex in Jalan Lintasan Kangar.