IF NAJIB CAN’T SEE IT, IT’S ALREADY TOO LATE: MUKHRIZ COMES INTO HIS OWN – EX MB EXPECTED TO WREST UNHAPPY KEDAH AWAY FROM UMNO, PAS

In the 13th general election, one of BN’s election strategies for Kedah was to parade Mukhriz as its candidate for MB. Against an ineffective PAS government which ruled from 2008-2013, BN reclaimed Kedah and promptly made Mukhriz MB.

But Mukhriz and his father fell out with BN after Dr Mahathir turned against Prime Minister Najib Razak over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.

Mukhriz was also one of the few Umno leaders who openly questioned Najib on the 1MDB affair.

The end was near for him when Ahmad Bashah led a group of Umno assemblymen and openly declared that they had lost confidence in Mukhriz as MB, forcing the latter to resign.

Mukhriz was subsequently sacked from Umno along with former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin. Mukhriz is now deputy president of Bersatu, Muhyiddin its president, while Dr Mahathir is chairman.

Internal weaknesses

“BN’s problems in Kedah are exacerbated by Kedah Umno’s own weaknesses and Ahmad Bashah’s unpopularity,”  said Ilham Centre director Hisommudin Bakar.

“There will be an internal revolt in Kedah Umno and PH will benefit,” said the pollster, based on a recent survey conducted in Kedah.

Hisommudin said the survey in May showed that Umno will see protest votes in the Langkawi, Jerlun, Kubang Pasu, Alor Setar, Pokok Sena, Kuala Kedah and Merbok parliamentary seats.

“The protest is minimal in Sik, Baling and Padang Terap while the non-Malay voters will be the deciding factor in Sg Petani, Padang Serai and Kulim Bandar Baru.

“I think Umno and BN have their own assessment of the situation in Kedah. And if Umno can’t detect this, it means that it is in trouble.”

But Hisomuddin warned that relying on the anti-BN sentiment alone is not enough for PH to win Kedah as it needs to come up with better offers to voters.

He said that PH parties also needed to set aside their own egos and work for a united victory.

“If all these elements come together, it’s not unthinkable for PH to surprise BN in the next elections.”

In Kg Langgar, Bedong and Pokok Sena, Umno has a different challenge as these are PAS strongholds.

But PAS supporters here are also fond of Mukhriz when he as MB.

“Mukhriz did not discriminate and took care of everyone… even those who did not support Umno and BN,”  said 53-year-old Muhammad Nasri.

“I think that if Mukhriz contests and leads the PH charge in Kedah, they can win big in this area as all the Umno members seem directionless.”

THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT