THE VERY ‘BESAR’ OR BIG ‘MENTRI BESAR’ GRAVY TRAIN: NONE WANT TO GIVE UP THEIR POSTS, ALL THINK THEY ARE DOING A ‘GOOD JOB’

SHAH ALAM 9/4/18, Press conference by Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali of the Selangor state government's dissolution of the State Assembly in the Foyer of the Selangor State Secretary Building. Picture by - Zuraneeza Zulkifli

KUALA LUMPUR – Most mentris besar and chief ministers are expected to retain their posts after the election, while a few may opt for a change as they run for federal office instead.

Wanita PKR chief Zuraida Kamaruddin said there were “many” qualified candidates for the Selangor mentri besar post if incumbent Selangor MB Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, who is also PKR deputy president, goes federal.

“But our support was for him to continue doing a good job in Selangor as per Selangorians’ expectations and support.

“Governing Selangor is like controlling half the country,” Zuraida told Malay Mail.

Azmin, touted by some youths in Pakatan Harapan (PH) as their choice for prime minister, is currently the incumbent Gombak MP and Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman.

It is understood that Zuraida may move from the Ampang parliament seat to the Lembah Jaya state seat under the same constituency.

Perak

Perak MCA chief Datuk Mah Hang Soon said he believed Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir, who has been Perak Mentri Besar for almost two terms, would remain in office after the election, even though Zambry has been tipped to run for both state and federal seats.

“We have an excellent MB ― very dynamic, open-minded and well accepted by the people of all walks of life, every race, in Perak. He’s very popular. So we are proud to be what we call Team Zambry in Perak,” Mah told Malay Mail.

“We want him to stay on.”

When asked if BN had any back-up candidates for mentri besar, Mah said: “I don’t think we should discuss that.”

Zambry was controversially made MB during the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis that saw BN wresting the state from Pakatan Rakyat (PR), without a no-confidence vote tabled in the state legislative assembly, when three then-PR assemblymen defected. BN, however, won back Perak in Election 2013.

Penang

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng will be reappointed Penang chief minister if PH retains the state, caretaker state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow said.

Penang DAP election campaign deputy director Steven Sim pointed out that it has already been announced that Chow would be Lim’s successor if the latter was convicted of corruption over the purchase of a house.

“But we are convinced by office documentations available that LGE is not guilty of those false charges.

“The succession plan is already in place long time,” Sim told Malay Mail.

Lim’s corruption trial was postponed to May 10, the day after polling day for the 14th general election.

Kelantan

PAS will retain Datuk Ahmad Yakob as the Kelantan mentri besar if the Islamist party keeps the state in the coming election, party secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said.

Takiyuddin said Ahmad was chosen by the party’s late spiritual leader, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, and has proven to be a good mentri besar.

“No doubt he keeps a low profile, but he managed to handle the matters well. And he created better relationship between state and federal government. That’s a few of his achievements. Definitely he’ll be retained,” Takiyuddin told Malay Mail.

Under Ahmad’s administration, the Kelantan state legislative assembly passed in 2015 amendments to the Shariah Criminal Code II Enactment to pave the way for hudud law in the state.

Johor

BN is expected to retain Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin as Johor mentri besar if the coalition keeps the state.

Johor Umno information chief Datuk Samsolbari Jamali said Khaled has not only fulfilled BN’s Election 2013 manifesto, but also holistically improved development of the southern state according to current needs.

“At the end of these five years, the people cannot deny that he has successfully led the state. The plan to develop Johor’s New Decade should not be hindered by any party,” Samsolbari told Malay Mail, referring to Johor BN’s GE14 manifesto titled “Johor Team For A New Decade: Pledges for the Future”.

“He should be retained based on his performance and commitment.”

Johor Umno Youth chief Hahasrin Hashim pointed out that Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar and Crown Prince Tunku Ismail have commended Khaled on “successfully performing his duties and responsibilities as Mentri Besar”.

Pahang

Bentong MCA deputy chairman Wong Choo Yak said he believed caretaker Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaaob would continue running for a state seat in the election.

“As MB, we don’t know because that will be decided by our prime minister,” Wong told Malay Mail.

Pahang has been grappling with pollution from poorly regulated bauxite mining. Last month, international newswire Reuters reported that Malaysia extended a moratorium on bauxite mining that had been enforced since January 2016, when run-off from stockpiles of the mineral turned rivers and seas red.

Terengganu

It is unclear if Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman will remain as Terengganu MB if BN retains the state, even though Umno vice president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reportedly hinted last Thursday that he would, according to Sinar Harian.

Malay Mail’s sister publication, ProjekMMMO, reported recently Umno sources as saying that the question of Razif’s replacement has emerged, with talks that he might be replaced by the caretaker prime minister’s political secretary, Datuk Jailani Ngah, who may run in Batu Rakit.

Ahmad Razif was appointed as Terengganu MB in 2014 to replace Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, after BN barely retained the state government with 17 state seats to then-Pakatan Rakyat’s 15 seats in Election 2013 under Ahmad’s leadership.

– http://www.themalaymailonline.com