Perlis Bersatu has rebuffed former Umno man Ismail Kassim's plans to join the Pakatan Harapan party.

"There is no way that we would work with an enemy that has 'killed' so many of our comrades in the battlefield (GE14). He had 'killed' our friends but now wants to join us?" state Bersatu chief Ameir Hassan was quoted as saying by Bernama.

"Perlis Bersatu has enough qualified leaders and we don't need deviant ideas practised by Umno to be part of our struggle," he added.

Ameir said if Ismail wanted to fight for the people, he should call for snap polls in the state to seek a fresh mandate.

Earlier today it was reported that Ismail, the brother of Perlis BN chief Shahidan Kassim, had lost confidence in the current Umno leadership and now wished to forge a relationship with the Pakatan Harapan federal government.

Shahidan, when contacted by Bernama, said he was unaware of his brother's exit from Umno until he read about it in the news.

Ismail found himself caught in the middle of the Perlis menteri besar crisis following the 14th general election.

He was nominated as one of the menteri besar candidates by his brother Shahidan.

However, Bintong assemblyperson Azlan Man was sworn in instead, to the objection of the remaining nine BN assemblypersons.

The Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail declared that he chose not to elect Ismail for fear the latter would be no more than a "puppet controlled by external factors".

This was dismissed by Ismail who then opted out of the running for the menteri besar post, saying neither he nor Azlan should hold the post and suggested that the ruler chooses from one of the other eight BN assemblypersons.

Ismail was absent when the eight other assemblypersons were eventually sworn in, making him the only BN lawmaker without a position on the state executive council.