Mukhriz: Dad's candidacy in Langkawi will bode well for whole country

GE14 | Pakatan Harapan Kedah chairperson Mukhriz Mahathir said his father's candidacy in Langkawi will bode well, not only for Kedah but for the whole country.

Mukhriz said the last time it happened, when Mahathir first contested in the Kota Setar parliamentary seat in 1964 and won, the impact was felt not only in Kedah but Perlis, Penang and northern Perak.

Mahathir then rose up the ranks to become prime minister in 1981 and ruled the country with a firm grip until 2003, when he stepped down from his post.

The 92-year old former prime minister is currently at loggerheads with caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, and wants to topple his leadership in the coming May 9 general election.

"I hope the same thing will happen this time," Mukhriz said after a ceramah featuring Mahathir as the Langkawi candidate at Padang Masirat, a stone's throw from the airport.

"We are all so lucky to spend an evening with no rain. As soon as he ends his speech, it rains cats and dogs, so it's good sign," said the former Kedah menteri besar.

'Position is not something you run for'

Asked if he would be appointed MB again should Harapan win Kedah in the coming GE, Mukhriz said "the position is not something that you run for".

Mukhriz was ousted from his post as Kedah MB in 2005 after he criticised caretaker prime minister Najib Razak over the 1MDB scandal.

Mukhriz said that Harapan must first win the state, and then only decide who would be most suited to hold the post.

It is learnt that PKR's Johari Abdul is also eyeing the MB seat should his party win more seats than Bersatu, DAP or Amanah.

However, Mukhriz said that he had made a promise to Kedah, that even if he were to contest a parliament seat, he would be very much involved in the ongoings and administration of the state.

"So after discussing with the Harapan chief and Bersatu chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin, it was decided that I stand in two seats," Muhkriz said.

Asked why was he not defending his Ayer Hitam state seat, Mukhriz said he preferred to contest in seats that have not been won by his party.

For example, he was Jerlun MP in 2008, but he let the seat go to Othman Aziz in 2013 "for free" and he won it for Umno at the time.

"I am doing it again, I am not defending the seat which I won in Ayer Hitam but will be contesting in Jitra instead, while recontesting the Jerlun parliamentary seat won by BN in 2013," said Mukhriz.

"These are not easy seats, but I see it as my responsibility as Harapan Kedah chairperson to win the two seats for our coalition," he added. - Mkini