Blades being sharpened for Mukhriz?

PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar says that the National Professors' Council has put Mukhriz Mahathir on a warpath with Kedah Umno warlords by making its survey findings public.

KUALA LUMPUR: Kedah Umno warlords may attempt to kill off International Trade and Industries Deputy Minister Mukhriz Mahathir’s political career, claimed PAS.

PAS vice president Mahfuz Omar said this was because of the National Professors’ Council’s (MPN) survey that showed Mukhriz as the favourite to helm Kedah should Barisan Nasional win the state in the general election.

“I don’t know whether MPN is being used as a tool to destroy Mukhriz or it’s just naïve by making the findings public. The council failed to understand Umno’s politics in Kedah,” he added.

On Wednesday, MPN said a survey done in Kedah showed that 69% of the respondents were in favour of Mukhriz, the son of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to be the state’s next menteri besar if BN won.

The survey was conducted on 10,800 respondents in the state.

Mahfuz, who is also the Pokok Sena MP, said that he sympathised with Mukhriz as he would now be an obvious target for attacks from his own party members in Kedah.

“I have spoken to some Umno leaders in Kedah. Not all of them like Mukhriz or even his father,” he claimed.

24-hour transfer orders

On another matter, Mahfuz took Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to task for penalising civil servants for the dismal turn out during the National Cooperatives Day celebration.

“It’s unfortunate that civil servants are punished for not getting the numbers for the event. Ismail should accept the fact that people just didn’t want to attend the function,” he said.

The National Cooperatives Day celebration, officiated by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, was held between July 13 to July 15 at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium

However, the celebration saw a dismal attendance although it was earlier adverstised that 100,000 people would be attending the event.

On July 16, Ismail issued transfer orders to four state cooperatives directors from Kedah, Pahang, Terengganu and Negeri Sembilan with immediate effect.

However, he dismissed claims that he was punishing the officers for the failed celebration saying it was a routine restructuring exercise.

Mahfuz said if it was a normal restructuring exercise, the officers would have got an earlier transfer order as opposed to a 24-hour notice.

“Ismail must understand there is no point celebrating the prime minister when the function doesn’t bring any benefit to the people,” he said.