Perlis PAS deputy commissioner Shahidan Kassim said if the Islamic party intended to change the state administration, it would not need to resort to a no-confidence motion as it already holds a majority in the state assembly.

“All of this is mere speculation being spread by others. Show me proof — there is no pact to table a vote of no confidence (against Abu Bakar).

“The PAS central leadership has already decided to support this state government until the next election.

“That vote of no-confidence is not PAS’s way.

“Party president Abdul Hadi Awang has advised me to maintain good relations and we are abiding by the PAS central leadership’s decision,” he said at an event in Kangar, Perlis, yesterday, Berita Harian reported.

Shahidan, who is also Perlis Perikatan Nasional chief, said relations between the Islamic party and Bersatu in the state administration remained strong.

On Saturday, PAS’s assemblymen in Perlis gave the menteri besar a week to explain the sudden postponement of the state assembly meeting scheduled for today.

Sanglang assemblyman Shukri Ramli, the former Perlis menteri besar, expressed disappointment that PAS assemblymen were not consulted over the postponement.

The state assembly was originally scheduled to meet from April 21 to 23. However, a notification on the postponement issued last Friday had sparked speculation.

On Sunday, Abu Bakar said the postponement of the upcoming three-day meeting was not related to any issue of a vote of no confidence or uncertainty over support for the state government under his leadership.

He said the postponement was to allow the state government to further refine its administrative preparations so that the meeting could be conducted in a more orderly manner, pointing out that he had only assumed office as menteri besar on Dec 28 last year.

He also said the state assembly would meet before June 8, with the new dates to be announced later this week.