The Malaysian Insight

SACKED Umno leader Shahidan Kassim is ready to pave the way for PAS to take over Perlis if Perikatan Nasional (PN) wins the state in the November 19 general election (GE). 

Shahidan, who is defending his Arau parliamentary seat under the PN-PAS banner after being dropped by Umno, told The Malaysian Insight that he has no issues with PAS running the state for the first time ever, since the party is a Malay and Islam-based party. 

“There is no problem (in PAS governing Perlis), PAS is Bumiputera Islam,” said Shahidan who earlier this week was sacked from Umno for contesting under the PN banner. 

Perlis, which has three federal and 15 state seats, has long been a Barisan Nasional (BN)-Umno stronghold, but that looks to change in this GE. 

Shahidan, a four-term Arau MP, believes that his support for Malay-Muslim and national unity was the reason for Umno rejecting him as a candidate. 

He said Umno’s decision was not in line with the true sentiments of the voters and the grassroots.

“I agree, (and) PAS agrees with ummah unity. Only Umno leaders disagree, but the people agree. Umno grassroots support ummah unity,” said Shahidan.

When The Malaysian Insight met him, he was busy canvassing for votes at Guar Sanji, one of the state seats under the Arau parliamentary constituency that PAS won in the last GE.

PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin was also there, as well as a group of young people in black shirts featuring a photo of Shahidan with the words “DSSK”, an acronym for his title and name. 

The youngsters repeatedly chanted “Hidup Datuk Seri”, “Hidup PN”, “takbir”, and alternating chants of “Hidup Tan Sri”, in support of Shahidan and Muhyiddin. 

Commenting on the response, Shahidan said it showed that his influence among voters, including the youth, is greater than that of Umno. 

“I don’t need to talk (about support), these are all young people. After all this time, they still don’t know Umno, they only know Shahidan. 

“For more than four years, they (Umno) have never helped me,” said Shahidan, who was asked about his confidence in maintaining dominance in the Arau seat. 

His goal in GE15 is clear – to make Perlis the fourth state to be controlled by PAS, after Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah, and to end BN’s dominance in the tiny northernmost state. 

“God willing, we pray PN will succeed in ruling this country, but most importantly, that PN will capture Perlis.

“One vote for PN is one vote for ummah unity,” said Shahidan in his brief speech at the event.

He has never lost in any GE, either in parliamentary or state seats, and has even defeated two PAS murshidul generals – the late Haron Din and Hashim Jasin. 

Shahidan, who served as menteri besar for five terms, is not contesting a state seat this time, implying that he will not return to the position of menteri besar.

Immense influence 

For PAS and PN, Shahidan’s influence in the state is seen as creating a wave capable of giving them the chance to win the state. 

PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin said PN’s strategy was to use Shahidan to gain advantage for the Islamist party. 

Shahidan’s influence of over 30 years in local politics in Perlis makes him an important asset to PAS in the campaign to capture Perlis, he said.

“I see that he has many followers who are loyal to him. These young people show that he has many supporters. He won because of his great grassroots support,” he said.

PN needs to win eight seats to ensure an easy victory to form the state government, and the party is confident of winning six seats. 

“Out of nine we are contesting, if we can achieve six wins, if Bersatu wins some, we can form a state government together,” said Hashim. 

He expects PAS to be able to strengthen its position in Guar Sanji and Sanglang, two state seats won by PAS in the last GE with a narrow majority. 

“We lost the Simpang Empat state assembly in GE14, but this time Shahidan’s people will help us win.

“In the Kangar and Padang Besar areas, I believe we can win a few more state seats.

“It is not impossible to form a government after that,” he said. – November 10, 2022.