Mukhriz position as MB Kedah in jeopardy

Malaysiakini:

Change in Mukhriz-led state gov't is inevitable - Kedah PAS

A change in the Kedah government is inevitable, says Kedah PAS commissioner Ahmad Yahaya.

Ahmad claimed that among the reasons was that Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir (above) now has less than half of the support amongst Bersatu assemblypersons in the state.

"Pakatan Harapan is handicapped and has lost the majority to lead the Kedah government. A change in the state government is unavoidable.

"Therefore, PAS, which has 15 state seats in Kedah, the most among the parties in Kedah, is ready to lead the state government," he said in a statement.

Mukhriz, who is also Bersatu deputy president, has maintained the Harapan government in Kedah even though party president Muhyiddin Yassin had taken Bersatu out of the coalition to form Perikatan Nasional with BN, PAS, GPS and other minor parties.

Mukhriz has a fragile majority in Kedah with 19 seats to the 17 seats controlled by PAS and Umno.

Harapan contributes 13 seats to Mukhriz's government comprising seven from PKR, four from Amanah and two from DAP while Bersatu has six seats.

Ahmad (above) also noted that there was uncertainty within PKR with some assemblypersons upset at a wave of sackings and suspensions, mostly involving the supporters of leaders who had defected to PN.

Muhyiddin has given the go-ahead for the replacement of Harapan governments to PN ones in Johor, Malacca and Perak but has yet to make a move in Kedah.

However, a change is increasingly likely as Mukhriz's father Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also the Bersatu chairperson, appears to be manoeuvring against Muhyiddin.

Yesterday, Bersatu Youth declared it was against cooperation with Umno and wants to return to Harapan after a meeting with Mahathir. This sparked a revolt in the wing.

Bersatu is presently split between Muhyiddin's faction and Mahathir's faction.

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Star Online's Joceline Tan states:

Despite the hostilities, Muhyiddin is handling Mukhriz and Dr Mahathir with kid gloves for now.

He has left Kedah alone, allowing Mukhriz to continue to lead the state.

The Kedah government has been hanging in a delicate balance and could fall anytime.

All it needs is for Dr Robert Ling and Azman Nasrudin, two PKR assemblymen aligned to Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, to cross the floor.

Insiders claimed that when the Pakatan Federal Government collapsed in February, Mukhriz had asked Azmin for help in order to retain control over Kedah.

Muhyiddin has also not disturbed Mukhriz’s position as chairman of the Kedah Regional Development Authority (Keda) and the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada).

It is a strategic move on the part of Muhyiddin. He does not want to give Mukhriz the opportunity to play victim. But all that will change if Muhyiddin retains the Bersatu presidency.

However, if Mukhriz somehow manages to become the new president, then the government could change again.

It is a do-or-die for both Muhyiddin and Mukhriz and it is only starting to heat up.