ALOR STAR: The simmering Kedah leadership crisis is coming to a slow boil as the expected change in menteri besar yesterday did not happen.
Instead, all 21 Kedah Barisan National (BN) assemblymen, including the 19 who had wanted Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir out, were called in one by one by the three-member state Regency Council.
The assemblymen, led by Kedah Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, were tight-lipped about the meeting, which lasted from noon to about 5pm. Bashah is seen as the likeliest replacement for Mukhriz.It was understood Mukhriz was the last person slotted to meet the council.
During the meeting, which included the state’s legal adviser and state secretary, the assemblymen were asked to give their assessment of Mukhriz as menteri besar and explain why they had lost confidence in him. Mukhriz has been menteri besar since 2013.
They were asked to make clear whether their stand was taken of their own free will or under duress. Each was given between five and 10 minutes.
Highly-placed sources told the New Straits Times that the council was satisfied with the position taken by the assemblymen and would present their feedback to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, who is also the sultan of Kedah.
“A decision on the status of the Kedah menteri besar will be made soon,” the source said.
Yesterday evening, the state’s opposition leaders were told to be present before the Regency Council today. They were not told why.Mukhriz has resorted to social media to drum up support, under the banner of the #SaveKedah campaign.
Last night, he was at Stadium Darul Aman with a few thousand supporters for a friendly match between the Kedah football team and Sungai Ara Football club. Members of the media were not allowed near him.
In his speech during halftime, Mukhriz said he could not foresee how the political crisis would end.“Whatever the outcome, we should find a leader with high integrity... who gives attention to the needs of the people,” he said.
Kedah was plunged into crisis following a declaration by the state’s Umno leaders, led by Bashah, that they had lost faith in Mukhriz’s leadership as menteri besar and state Umno chairman.
On Sunday, Bashah and 19 Kedah BN assemblymen met Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak to discuss the issue of appointing a new menteri besar.
“During the meeting, the 19 assemblymen were adamant that they no longer had confidence in Mukhriz’s leadership and wanted a change in the menteri besar and the state Umno liaison committee chairman’s position.
“We will accept whatever decision made by the party president on the issue. Our hope is that we can resolve the issue as soon as possible. We do not want it to be dragged on any longer,” said Bashah at the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport here at 11.50am yesterday.
He, however, refused to comment on the list of candidates for menteri besar proposed by Najib, who is also the prime minister, to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Kedah Regency Council chairman Tan Sri Tunku Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah.
Kuah assemblyman Nor Saidi Nanyan and Tanjung Dawai assemblyman Datuk Tajul Urus Mat Zain, who attended the meeting with Najib yesterday, were spotted at the airport.
“We discussed what is good for Kedah and Umno. I believe there will be a change of menteri besar,” said Tajul on the meeting with Najib on Sunday.
On reports that several Umno branch chiefs had protested against the move to oust Mukhriz, Tajul said division chiefs would soon meet branch leaders and members to explain the crisis.
“For the time being, we are not going to reach out to those in the branches.
“The most important thing is to have discipline, which means to obey the top leadership of the party. There is a rational reason for our actions. We are thinking of what is best for Kedah.”The three leaders, however, refused to comment on Mukhriz’s statement demanding that those involved in the revolt against him apologise to the sultan of Kedah and the Kedah Regency Council chairman.
Mukhriz had said the group’s action had offended Tuanku Abdul Halim and Tunku Sallehuddin.
When contacted, Kedah Royal Household Controller Datuk Paduka Syed Unan Mashri Syed Abdullah, who is also principal private secretary to the sultan of Kedah, said no comments would be made on the matter, for now
NEW STREET TIMES
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