Kedah grassroots resisting MB change, says state exco member

If embattled Menteri Besar Muhkriz Mahathir is “unceremoniously” ousted from his post this week, the state may suffer losses in the coming 2018 general election, a senior Kedah BN leader says.

State executive councillor for environment, Chinese community affairs, health and unity Dr Leong Yong Kong said if it happens, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s statement blaming anti-Muhkriz rebels for causing Kedah’s fall into PAS’ hand in 2008 would appear truthful.

Since he took over as menteri besar in Kedah, Muhkriz has travelled all over the state and has even successfully entered PAS strongholds, Leong said when met at his office at the state government headquarters in Alor Setar yesterday.

“Today, even PAS supports Mukhriz as the menteri besar, as do Umno and the non-Umno grassroots. He attracts youths and the senior citizens, and youths who support him come from all ethnic groups,” said Leong, the assemblyperson for Gurun.

“This is something that made me respect him,” added the Kedah MCA chief, who went on to tout Muhkriz as a charming and approachable MB and a non-controversial person.

“In the social media, even Chinese youths who are so against BN, have expressed their support for him. They attacked Umno for trying to get rid of him,” he noted.

Asked how accurate were the claims that the grassroots were resistant to any change in the state MB, Leong said he does not have the statistics.

“But when I go around my constituency, the feedback I get - and this cuts across all parties - is that the grassroots have strong feelings against any change of MB,” he added.

Among the anti-Muhkriz rebels mentioned by Mahathir include Kedah Umno deputy chief Ahmad Bashah Md Hanapiah, who led 14 division leaders to declare the withdrawal of their support for Muhkriz.

SDs to remove Mukhriz

Kedah Umno has reportedly managed to obtain enough support - via the signing of statutory declarations (SDs) - to seek royal permission to remove Mukhriz as the MB.

However, Leong and Kulim assemblyman Chua Thiong Gee have denied signing the SDs.

Speculation is rife that Muhkriz will eventually be forced to leave his seat this week.

Leong said the people, including BN supporters are tired of the daily “politicking” among politicians.

To him, Muhkriz has done well in Kedah, although he has been criticised for several projects that have not materialised.

Leong cited the example of the Kulim airport proposal, which is still under study, and denied that the project was delayed due to the sour relationship between Muhkriz and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Muhkriz seems to be caught in the middle of the verbal war between Najib and his father Mahathir (photo), who has become the PM’s fiercest critic.

“The delay in the Kulim airport plan is also due to the resistance towards the project from the Penang government and the state Umno, which prefers the Alor Setar airport to be expanded, Leong said.

“If the study is feasible, the Kulim airport project will materialise even under a new MB,” Leong said.

The new airport proposal was supported by Kedahans, especially the Chinese community, who can see benefits for economic development in the Northern Corridor.

Another example he cited is the Kulim Hi-Tech Zone, which was mooted by Mahathir and has attracted some RM1 billion in investment under Muhkriz’s rule.

'Pride of Malaysia'

“The development of this area is progressing, not regressing. It is the pride of Malaysia, not just Kedah,” Leong said, adding that credit is also due to the federal government.

He also dismissed allegations by Ahmad Bashah that Muhkriz is not in Kedah during weekends and he constantly travels to Kuala Lumpur.

Ahmad Bashah claimed that Muhkriz’s frequent trips to KL, because of which he was hardly seen in Kedah, are among the reasons for Umno leaders to lose confidence in Muhkriz’s leadership.

“Where is the proof, or statistics? You cannot just accuse others of anything. without facts,” he said.

“Since I became a state executive councillor in 2014, we had meetings in Kedah about five times (or less) in a year; we have exco meetings every week and only cancel them for necessary reasons, not as we like,” he added.

Leong said it was understandable why Muhkriz travelled to KL on the weekends - for his family was based there, and sometimes, for official work.

Muhkriz is a father who likes to spend some time with his young children, despite his busy schedule.

“Since he became menteri besar, he has worked to clear all the backlogs relating to land applications.

“Mukhriz spends time dealing with many investors who come to Kedah to look for investment opportunities and he has also travelled overseas to seek for investment. I do not see how this is detrimental to the state,” Leong added. -Mkini