Menteri besar Abu Bakar Hamzah said the new dates had received the consent of the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, Bernama reported.

He said the state government was now working on establishing a steering committee for the Perlis Maju economic plan, which would be announced during the assembly’s winding-up session.

“We are working on setting the direction for the economy, tourism, education, and other sectors,” said Abu Bakar.

“This takes time, and that is why I proposed amending the (state assembly meeting) dates with the consent of Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin.”

He was confident the extension would enable the plans to be presented at the upcoming meeting.

The state assembly had originally been scheduled to meet from April 21 to 23.

However, a notification letter on the postponement issued by state assembly secretary Anwar Sahul Hameed on April 17 had sparked speculation.

Abu Bakar, the Perlis Bersatu chief, previously 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.

He pointed out that he had assumed office as menteri besar only on Dec 28 last year.

Perlis PAS has said none of its elected representatives will table a no-confidence motion against Abu Bakar following the postponement of the state assembly meeting.

The party has also confirmed that its assemblymen will support the Perikatan Nasional-led state government until the end of its term.

Relations between PN allies PAS and Bersatu in Perlis have been strained following a political crisis which saw PAS’s Shukri Ramli being replaced by Abu Bakar as menteri besar.

Eight PN assemblymen, including five from Bersatu, reportedly submitted statutory declarations to the ruler to withdraw their support for Shukri, the Sanglang assemblyman.