Mukhriz says more than 90% of Kedahans support him

Supporters of Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir at Wisma Umno Jerlun in Kedah today. Mukhriz says he will continue to serve the state as long as the people want him. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, January 21, 2016.

Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir today said more than 90% of the people in Kedah were behind him.

He said at the moment, it appeared that many people wanted his removal following news reports that 14 division heads wanted him replaced as they had lost confidence in him.

However, he said it was not a question of 14 people but of whether two million Kedahans had lost confidence in him or not.

"A social media survey has revealed that 90% to 95% of Kedahans support me," he said at a gathering in Jerlun today.

Mukhriz added that he would continue to serve Kedah as long as the people wanted him.

"If you want to change (the MB), tunggu la sat (wait a while). Do it properly. I am not so difficult to talk with.

"Kalau nak buat aniaya kat saya, terpaksa juga kita bertindak (If there is an attempt to mistreat me, we will be forced to act too)," he said, adding that there was no reason to replace him.

"No reason to change the MB but because of an internal problem," he said, adding that people must think highly of the menteri besar position.

Mukhriz said one of the reasons Barisan Nasional had been able to win back Kedah three years ago was the announcement that he would be the state's next menteri besar.

He said the announcement by Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak had influenced the decisions of Kedahans, including those living in other states and young voters who wanted change.

"My position is something that came from the sweat of the grassroots. So each time something like this happens, I must return to the grassroots to be with the people.

"Maybe there are some internal problems in the party, but they should be settled internally.

"Removing me as state chairman is an internal party matter but as menteri besar, it is a decision up to the people. It is not our right to decide what we like."

Mukhriz said his appointment as menteri besar was also done with the consent of the Sultan of Kedah, who must be convinced that the candidate for the position held the people's confidence.

Therefore, the decision of who should hold the position lay with three parties – the national party chairman, the people and the Sultan, he said.

"You can put anyone for the position but if the sultan does not give his consent, the person still cannot be appointed as menteri besar.

"And if the people are not convinced by the menteri besar, how will the government convince the people to support its policies and plans?" he said.

It was reported yesterday that 14 out of 15 Kedah Umno division leaders want Mukhriz, who was appointed menteri besar in 2013, to be replaced because he had allegedly under-performed, failed to bring development to Kedah, spent too much time in Kuala Lumpur and sidelined Umno "warlords".

Mukhriz said his administration had introduced initiatives to boost development, social welfare and sports, particularly football, earning Kedah the award for best team of 2015, among others.

The Ayer Hitam assemblyman said his only intention was to make life better and more prosperous for the people of Kedah.

"We may face some problems up there but we can always sit down and talk to solve them. As state Umno liaison committee chairman, surely I can give the division chiefs room.

"It is my duty but I ask that they do not deny me my right as state party chief because they have very good ties with the national party leadership," he said.

- TMI