Mukhriz to quit as MB today after losing majority support

Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir is expected to resign as Kedah menteri besar on Wednesday after losing majority support in the state assembly. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, February 3, 2016.

The brief Kedah leadership tussle is at an end as first-term Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir is expected to quit the post later today after losing majority support in the state assembly.

It is understood the state Regency Council has informed Mukhriz that he does not have majority support of the Kedah assemblymen and will have to resign from the top state job.

"The state Regency Council is satisfied this evening that Mukhriz has lost the confidence of the majority of the Kedah assemblymen," a source had told The Malaysian Insider after attending a Barisan Nasional (BN) meeting in Grand Alora Hotel in state capital Alor Star

The source said the council made the decision after a final meeting with all opposition assemblymen at the Wisma Darul Aman yesterday evening.

BN holds 21 seats in the 36-seat state legislature.

In the meeting, 13 opposition lawmakers from PAS, PKR, DAP and Amanah individually met the council comprising chairman Tunku Temenggong Tan Sri Tunku Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, Tunku Laksamana Datuk Seri Diraja Tunku Abdul Hamid Thani Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah and the Kedah Sultan's eldest daughter Tengku Panglima Besar Datuk Seri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz.

The Malaysian Insider had reported that BN assemblymen, who first announced they were dissatisfied with Mukhriz on January 20, were short of support after two of them made and U-turn and expressed confidence in Mukhriz on Monday.

The source also said media reports saying the opposition lawmakers were behind Mukhriz was inaccurate as some of them did not support the Umno man, who is the youngest son of Malaysia's longest-serving prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Dr Mahathir is now chief critic of Umno president and prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak despite endorsing him for the country's top job seven years ago.

"The council's decision is appropriate because they heard it direct and not from third parties. The logical conclusion is that there will be a new menteri besar.

"Only the oath-taking date is uncertain but we hope it is as soon as possible," said the BN source, who declined to name the new menteri besar saying it was the palace's privilege to make the announcement.

The source also said Mukhriz had agreed to resign and had cancelled the weekly executive council meeting after the latest developments. Last week's meeting saw only three exco members turning up.

"Mukhriz had called all his special officers to his official residence tonight to inform them of the decision.

"He has agreed to resign. The exco meeting is cancelled, there might be an announcement tonight or tomorrow but not sure," the source said last night.

A source close to Mukhriz did not deny the latest speculation when speaking to The Malaysian Insider, only saying that there will be a press conference at Wisma Darul Aman at 10am.

"For the media's attention. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir will hold a media conference at the state operations room, Wisma Darul Aman," said the source to the menteri besar.

He only said that there would be a major announcement in the media conference.

The leadership crisis erupted when Kedah Umno deputy liaison chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah led 13 other division leaders to revolt against Muhriz and calling for a new state leadership.

Najib has had meetings with the factions in Kedah but has kept tight-lipped over the choice of the new menteri besar although he has had an audience with the Sultan of Kedah, the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah, and also the state Regency Council over the issue.

- TMI