Move to oust Muhkriz as MB just a rumour, says Kedah MCA

The reported move to oust embattled Kedah Menteri Besar Muhkriz Mahathir, with 19 out of 21 assemblypersons inking statutory declarations to remove him this week, remains only a rumour, said the state MCA.

State executive councillor for environment, Chinese community affairs, health and unity, Leong Yong Kong, said no one has approached the two MCA representatives to sign the SDs, as reported in The Star today.

“I am also surprised that there is such a story. I want to know how come it is said that we have signed the SDs.

“You should ask the reporter where she got the story. So far, no one has approached me,” Leong, who is Gurun assemblyman, told Malaysiakini.

“It is best for people not to create or spread such rumours and wait for the final outcome of this matter,” he added.

Asked if Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who was in Langkawi yesterday, had said anything about the SDs related to Muhkriz’s removal as MB, Leong said “nothing of that sort”.

He said the situation is very complex and MCA could only wait for the final outcome.

“The matter is purely in Umno Kedah’s hand, so we leave it to them to settle it,” he added.

Asked if he knew when the final outcome would be known, he said: “Our leaders always know the best time to make an announcement.”

Leong was asked if he had signed an SD along with 18 other Kedah assemblypersons to support the state Umno’s call to remove Muhkriz as menteri besar.

The Kedah state legislative assembly has 36 assemblypersons – 21 from BN, and the remaining 15 from PAS, PKR, DAP and Parti Amanah Negara.

Umno needs merely 19 reps to show no confidence in Muhkriz’s leadership and oust him as menteri besar, a post he has held since the 2013 general election.

Kulim representative Chua Thiong Gee, who was also cited by The Star as the other MCA state assemblyperson who supported the removal of Muhkriz, also denied he had signed the SD.

"I don't know how they could come up with such a story. I have not signed the SD," he said.

Chua declined to comment further regarding the Kedah MB crisis, saying "let's wait and see".

Speculation is rife after pro-BN website MyKMU.net said Kedah will have a new menteri besar in the next two days.

The website claims 20 out of 21 of Kedah BN assemblypersons have declared lack of confidence in Mukhriz, and will agree to whomever is chosen to replace him.

It cited sources as saying that the 20 assemblypersons had pledged their loyalty to Najib and are willing to meet with the sultan to declare this.

The website, deemed within political circles as having insider links to Najib's faction in Umno, said the party's secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has met with "90 percent of Kedah BN assemblypersons" as at this afternoon.

The Kedah political crisis came into focus after 14 out of 15 state Umno leaders led by deputy chief Ahmad Bashah Hanipah declared their wish at a press conference to have Muhkriz replaced.

They claimed Muhkriz was a weak leader who could not unite the party in the state, but the former son of Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said he had the support of the sultan and 95 percent of Kedahans. -Mkini