PN banking on ‘warlord’ Shahidan to win Perlis

(FMT) – Perikatan Nasional (PN) has appointed former Umno leader Shahidan Kassim as the coalition’s “warlord” in Perlis for the general election (GE15).

Perlis PN chairman Shukri Ramli, who is also state PAS chief, said the “PN warlord” had been tasked with helping fellow coalition members wrest Perlis from BN’s grip.

Shahidan is the former Arau MP and was sacked from Umno on Monday for defending his seat on a PN ticket.

“We are confident in his ability to lead the PN election machinery, and Perlis PAS will give its full support and assistance to Shahidan,” Bernama quoted him as saying.

Perlis Bersatu chief Abu Bakar Hamzah also expressed confidence in Shahidan’s ability as the main planner to bring about change in Perlis – a BN stronghold.

“With Shahidan’s assistance, I am confident that the PN machinery will become stronger as he has extensive knowledge and experience as a BN warlord before,” he said.

Shahidan said he would use his experience as former Perlis BN election director to bring victory to PN in the state.

“I was the person responsible for putting together a strategy, from ‘A to Z’ , to ensure BN’s victory in Perlis in GE14 and it is not impossible for me to be able to help PN as well,” he said.

Shahidan said he was not only campaigning for the Arau seat, but will also help his fellow PN colleagues in other constituencies.

He said his target was to capture 10 of the 15 state seats, including four in the Arau parliamentary constituency, and three seats each in Kangar and Padang Besar.

Last Tuesday, PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin was reported as saying the coalition was capable of winning Perlis in GE15 based on the wave of support shown by the electorate in the state.

Shahidan won the Arau seat in the 1986, 1990, 2013 and 2018 general elections and his competitors then included PAS spiritual leaders, the late Haron Din and Hashim Jasin.

Shahidan was also Perlis menteri besar from 1995 to 2008.