Dr Mahathir replaced Kedah MB too, without support from reps, says Mahdzir Khalid

Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, who is from Kedah, says former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad went against the wishes of 22 state assemblymen and replaced Tan Sri Osman Aroff as Kedah menteri besar with Tan Sri Sanusi Junid. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, January 25, 2016.An Umno lawmaker today said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should not question attempts to remove the Kedah menteri besar, as the former prime minister had done the same thing during his tenure.

Padang Terap MP Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid brought up Tan Sri Osman Aroff's sacking during Dr Mahathir's administration in 1996, which he said happened without the consent of Kedah state representatives.

"I remember during Tun's time as prime minister, 22 state representatives in Kedah had signed a petition in support of Osman as the menteri besar.

"But Tun, who was also Umno president at the time, decided to replace him anyway," Mahdzir, an Umno supreme council member, told a press conference in his constituency.

Dr Mahathir decided to replace Osman with his loyalist, Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, Mahdzir added.

Earlier today, the country's longest-serving prime minister criticised Kedah Umno's attempts to oust his son, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, from the state menteri besar post.

He said the move would only backfire on Barisan Nasional (BN) and cause it to lose in the next general election.

He also claimed those behind the movement against his son did not have good leadership records.

Dr Mahathir admitted that he did make changes to the leadership of Kedah during his tenure, but maintained that Umno continued to rule the state.

But Mahdzir said today that any solutions made in a political organisation depended on the change in the party leadership.

"The situation may be different but I believe in any organisation, a solution will be made when a crisis occurs," he said.

Mukhriz is now facing a revolt from Kedah Umno, after a group of leaders from the party's state chapter, led by deputy state liaison chairman Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, claimed they had lost confidence in him and wanted him to resign.

- TMI