Change in Mukhriz-led state gov't is inevitable - Kedah PAS

A change in the Kedah government is inevitable, says Kedah PAS commissioner Ahmad Yahaya.

Ahmad claimed that among the reasons was that Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir (above) now has less than half of the support amongst Bersatu assemblypersons in the state.

"Pakatan Harapan is handicapped and has lost the majority to lead the Kedah government. A change in the state government is unavoidable.

"Therefore, PAS, which has 15 state seats in Kedah, the most among the parties in Kedah, is ready to lead the state government," he said in a statement.

Mukhriz, who is also Bersatu deputy president, has maintained the Harapan government in Kedah even though party president Muhyiddin Yassin had taken Bersatu out of the coalition to form Perikatan Nasional with BN, PAS, GPS and other minor parties.

Mukhriz has a fragile majority in Kedah with 19 seats to the 17 seats controlled by PAS and Umno.

Harapan contributes 13 seats to Mukhriz's government comprising seven from PKR, four from Amanah and two from DAP while Bersatu has six seats.

Ahmad (above) also noted that there was uncertainty within PKR with some assemblypersons upset at a wave of sackings and suspensions, mostly involving the supporters of leaders who had defected to PN.

Muhyiddin has given the go-ahead for the replacement of Harapan governments to PN ones in Johor, Malacca and Perak but has yet to make a move in Kedah.

However, a change is increasingly likely as Mukhriz's father Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also the Bersatu chairperson, appears to be manoeuvring against Muhyiddin.

Yesterday, Bersatu Youth declared it was against cooperation with Umno and wants to return to Harapan after a meeting with Mahathir. This sparked a revolt in the wing.

Bersatu is presently split between Muhyiddin's faction and Mahathir's faction.

The Harapan government collapsed in late February after Muhyiddin took Bersatu out of the coalition and joined forces with a group of PKR defectors led by former PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.

Together with the Opposition, they formed the new PN federal government.

Mahathir had indicated he plans to wrest back control of the party in the next Bersatu election and withdraw the party from the PN government. - Mkini