Kedah MB seat - Umno's turn to help PAS out

The appointment of the new Kedah Menteri Besar Muhamad Sanusi Md Nor was the result of consensus with the Perikatan Nasional coalition and gives Umno a chance to repay PAS for its support elsewhere, said Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa.

"Sanusi's appointment is the consensus choice of PN and because of PAS has the most seats in the Kedah state assembly. It is, therefore, necessary for a PAS representative to be the menteri besar. PAS has helped Umno a lot, now it is Umno's turn to help PAS.

"This is a proper coalition, it's not one-sided only," said Annuar in reference to PAS assistance to Umno and BN in a number of by-election wins including Cameron Highlands, and Semenyih, as well as its support in the formation of new Umno-led state administrations in Johor and Malacca.

Earlier today, Mukhriz Mahathir resigned as Kedah menteri besar after losing the support of a majority of state assemblypersons.

He resigned after PN announced it had 23 of the 36 assembly seats and could form a new state government. 

This was after the defections of two PKR assemblypersons, Dr Robert Ling Kui Ee (Sidam) and Azman Nasrudin (Lunas), who left the party and declared their support for PN. The move was followed by four members of Mukhriz's own Bersatu party.

Meanwhile, Annuar (photo) took the opportunity to congratulate Sanusi.

Asked on his reaction to Mukhriz's claim that former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak was the main mover behind the toppling of the elected administrations, Annuar said he did not intend to elaborate on the matter.

The federal territories minister, on the other hand, said Mukhriz had the right to stand up and give his views.

"But the fact is that the PN government is supported by the political parties that are members of the PN and are determined to provide strong support to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

"It is not for political purposes, for we have a significant post-Covid-19 challenge. We cannot afford to be political, nor can we tolerate instability because we have so much to do with the people," he said. - Mkini