23 reps have lost confidence in Mukhriz, says Kedah opposition leader

(FMT) – Kedah opposition leader Muhamad Sanusi Md Nor says 23 of the 36 assemblymen in the state have lost confidence in the leadership of Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir and are calling for a new government to be installed.

Speaking at a press conference here today, he said they had all signed statutory declarations (SDs) to that effect which had been passed to the state secretary.

The SDs will then be presented to the Kedah sultan.

He also said one candidate for the position of menteri besar had been nominated by the three parties under Perikatan Nasional. However, he declined to comment on the candidate’s identity.

Sanusi said those who had lost confidence in Mukhriz’s leadership comprised 15 assemblymen from PAS, four from PPBM, two from Barisan Nasional, and the two independents who quit PKR earlier today.

According to him, the four from PPBM were Ku Rahman Ku Ismail (Guar Chempedak), Halimaton Shaadiah Saad (Bukit Kayu Hitam), Mohd Firdaus Ahmad (Kuah) and Juhari Bulat (Ayer Hangat).

This leaves Mukhriz (Jitra) and Amiruddin Hamzah (Anak Bukit) as the sole PPBM reps in the assembly.

PAS has 15 seats in the assembly while Umno has two. Nineteen assemblymen stood on a Pakatan Harapan ticket in the 2018 general election – seven from PKR, six from PPBM, four from Amanah and two from DAP.

Asked when a new menteri besar would be sworn in, Sanusi said they were not in a hurry and would leave it to the Kedah sultan to decide.

When asked about Mukhriz losing his position as menteri besar for the second time in four years, he said he felt sorry for him.

“He has my sympathies,” he added. “I think he should support the leadership of Muhyiddin Yassin.”

Mukhriz resigned as menteri besar in 2016 after a fallout with then-prime minister Najib Razak.