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PETALING JAYA: Tambun Tulang assemblyman Wan Zikri Afthar Ishak claims that he was dropped from the Perlis executive council because of politics rather than performance.
The Perlis Bersatu Youth information chief suspected that he was dropped because of party hierarchy, but said he believed that one’s performance and achievements were paramount.
“When I asked the menteri besar (Shukri Ramli) why I was dropped, he simply said it was due to politics. As to what that means, you will have to ask him.
“I was told that my name was not even an option. You can check with (Bersatu president) Muhyiddin Yassin if there was any intervention of sorts. I’ve been made to understand that it may be due to party hierarchy.
“It appears that one doesn’t need to be hardworking. As long as you know how to please someone then you can remain (in the exco),” Wan Zikri told FMT.
Under Shukri’s administration, exco members are appointed for one year to evaluate their performance.
Wan Zikri, the former youth and sports development committee chairman, claimed that Shukri previously told him he would remain in the post if the Perlis contingent brought back “many” medals from this year’s Malaysia Games (Sukma), among others.
He believed he had done well since taking on the portfolio in December last year, citing the Perlis contingent’s haul of 12 gold, 15 silver and 16 bronze medals at Sukma.
Besides Wan Zikri, Pauh assemblyman Megat Hashirat Hassan was also dropped from the exco. Megat Hashirat is the former Arau Bersatu chief.
Replacing them were two party colleagues – Perlis Bersatu chief and Kuala Perlis assemblyman Abu Bakar Hamzah and Wanita Bersatu committee member and Sena assemblyman Marzita Mansor – PAS’s Guar Sanji assemblyman, Ridzuan Hashim.
Last year, Abu Bakar claimed that Shukri disregarded Muhyiddin’s proposal for him to be appointed a member of the exco, and called for him to step down as menteri besar.
Separately, Megat Hashirat played down the exco reshuffle, saying it was not due to internal issues within Bersatu.
“Changes to the exco are at the menteri besar’s discretion,” he said.