Kedah MB drops 2 from exco line-up
CRISIS PERSISTS: Phahrolrazi, Ismail may be reappointed if they ‘repent’
(NST) – THE two “Anwarinas” in the Kedah executive council line-up have been dropped ahead of tomorrow’s annual swearing-in as the menteri besar appears to have won a temporary reprieve in an unprecedented power struggle. As the latest twist in the “ulama versus Anwarinas” saga entered its fifth day yesterday, the local media first had an inkling of a worsening crisis at 4pm. This was when Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak briefed the media that only eight, not 10, executive councillors would take the oath of office tomorrow.
Dropping hints of a gathering political storm, the menteri besar said, without elaborating, that the ceremony for the remaining two would be held at a later date. The New Straits Times subsequently learned that Datuk Phahrolrazi Zawawi and Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh, the exco members who had declined to be renominated, had been excluded for the new annually-reviewed term beginning March 8.
The eight, who will receive their letters of appointment from the chairman of the Regency Council, Datuk Seri Tunku Annuar Sultan Badlishah, at Istana Anak Bukit, are the five Azizan Pas loyalists and the three Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) councillors. The list is said to have been submitted by Azizan and was subsequently approved by Sultan of Kedah Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, who is also the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong. Phahrolrazi was once a front-runner to succeed Azizan should the menteri besar falter mid-term, while Dr Ismail is an Azizan protege.
It was learnt the two new faces are Kuala Ketil and Pantai Merdeka assemblymen Md Zuki Yusof and Abdullah Jusoh respectively. Both are first-term assemblymen.
Phahrolrazi, Ismail have until March 7 to decide
Abdullah was actually appointed executive councillor in charge of education and information after the 2008 general election but his tenure was not renewed at the annual review.
Zuki, 53, is a retired headmaster and Baling Pas division secretary.
Sources close to Azizan said the menteri besar was being “magnanimous” and giving time to Phahrolrazi, a two-term assemblyman for Pengkalan Kundor, and rookie Alor Mengkudu representative Dr Ismail to “repent”. The sources said both men had until March 7 to decide on their careers.
“Technically, the tenure for both men expires on March 7. If they repent and promise to toe the line, Azizan might consider reappointing them and make recommendations to Tuanku Abdul Halim.
“However, if they remain indignant, they will cease to be councillors after March 7 and Azizan will hold another oath-taking ceremony for the new councillors.”
The five Azizan loyalists in his state cabinet are Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah, Datuk Mohamed Taulan Mat Rasul, Datuk Dr Hamdan Mohamed Khalib, Datuk Siti Aishah Ghazali and Abdul Ghani Ahmad, while the three PKR councillors are Datuk S. Manikumar, Lim Soo Nee, Tan Chow Kang. Additional reporting by Nadia Badarudin
