A day after the fall of the Pakatan Harapan state government in Perak, Chenderiang assemblyperson Ahmad Faizal Azumu has resigned as menteri besar.
Faizal tendered his resignation after an audience with Perak ruler Sultan Nazrin Shah at Istana Kinta in Ipoh this morning.
Faizal said he had explained to the sultan that his resignation was due to Perak Bersatu's move to leave Harapan, and the present majority in the state assembly is now held by the new Perikatan Nasional pact.
"With my resignation, the state executive council members are also no more with immediate effect.
"I will leave it to the sultan to appoint a new menteri besar and form a new state government," he told reporters after leaving the palace.
"I, therefore, urge the people to be patient and remain calm while His Royal Highness makes a decision."
He added that Bersatu had also renominated him as the next menteri besar.
Faizal, along with three other Bersatu representatives, had pledged support for the Perikatan Nasional pact.
Perak Harapan was also hit with a second wave of defections immediately after Perikatan Nasional declared it would form a new state government.
Two of defectors - Paul Yong (Tronoh assemblyperson) and A Sivasubramaniam (Buntong) - were from DAP while Hasnul Zulkarnain Abd Munaim (Titi Serong) was from Amanah.
With this, the current alignment in Perak will see Perikatan Nasional with 32 seats on the government bench, while the opposition bench will have 24 members.
When asked to comment on the trio's defection, Faizal said he thanked them for their support and will continue working with them.
Meanwhile, Sinar Harian quoted Perak Umno chief Saarani Mohamad, who is also Kota Tampan assemblyperson, confirming that his name has been presented to the Sultan as their candidate for menteri besar.
"All Umno state assemblypersons have signed statutory declarations to nominate only one candidate for menteri besar," said Saarani, when met by reporters after his audience with the Sultan.
Also present at the palace was Perak PAS commissioner Razman Zakaria who said the party would accept any decisions made by the Sultan with regards to the menteri besar's post.
