Mukhriz no-show at Kedah rally

(The Star) – Some 300 supporters of Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir waited in vain for the Kedah Mentri Besar outside his Umno Ayer Hitam constituency service centre in Jerlun here, but he did not show up.

Supporters had gathered there since 3pm to show their support for Mukhriz, who is also Kedah Umno chairman.

Mukhriz’s special officer Datuk Aziz Muhamood had to deliver a speech to supporters, apologising to the gathered crowd.

Aziz told supporters that Mukhriz was still in Langkawi.

He also urged Mukhriz’s supporters to attend other rallies which will be held throughout the state and sign a petition, which would be compiled and sent to the Kedah Sultan.

“The signatures will be collected and sent to the palace as the people’s memo.

“We have also distributed them to religious schools to get more support for the MB,” he told the crowd, which dispersed at 6pm.

Also present at the rally was the division’s information chief Hayazi Azizan.

Later at the Bunga Sena Square (Dataran Bunga Sena) in Pokok Sena here, a small crowd of about 50 supporters gathered in the open space for another rally that was supposed to start at 8pm.

There was heavy police presence and a spokesperson said organisers were anticipating a crowd of 30,000, but was unable to confirm if Mukhriz will turn up by midnight.

As at 9pm, nobody had gone up to stage to address the crowd.

It is understood that Mukhriz is still in Langkawi to meet his father, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who arrived there at about 4.30pm.

Mukhriz was in Langkawi to attend a programme with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak earlier Sunday.