Not end of career: Ousted Mukhriz says betrayed politicians 'receive more people support'

History has proven that politicians who were betrayed, victimised and humiliated would receive sympathy and more support from the people during their political incarceration, said outgoing Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir.

"So I accept the situation willingly, our spirit continues to burn with defiance, as we notice that even those who are sitting on the fence are angry at what is happening in Kedah," he added, in his last press conference on Wisma Darul Aman, Alor Setar today.

"This gives me more confidence to topple the president (in Bersatu's internal party elections)," he added after announcing his resignation.

Mukhriz disagreed that this was the end of his political career, saying "it was always up and down, more downs, perhaps, but that's life".

He has been replaced by PAS Jeneri assemblyperson Muhammad Sanusi Mohd Nur, who will be sworn-in as the new Kedah MB at 2pm today.

Mukhriz lost the confidence of the majority after 23 elected representatives, including Bersatu (4) and PKR (2) signed statutory declarations against him while pledging support for Perikatan Nasional and Muhyiddin.

He said there were only two reasons why he was toppled as Kedah MB - his move to challenge Muhyiddin Yassin for the president post in Bersatu, and former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's parliamentary motion for a vote of no confidence against the PM on May 18.

Mukhriz said there was no reason that the state assemblypersons have lost confidence in his leadership even when he asked them the reason for them to do so.

He claimed that those who said they lost confidence in him received orders to do so by a higher authority.

"There no serious problems in Kedah during Pakatan Harapan's tenure, they were no scandals or crisis linked to me or any of my state executive council members," Mukhriz said in

"There were only personal political interests outside Kedah which have now victimised the people here," he added.

Mukhriz vowed to monitor "every move" and the performance of the new Kedah government, to see what happens to the good initiatives started by the Harapan administration.

These included issues related to the forest reserves, uncontrolled logging, where favouritism is being practised in the issuance of permits and contracts.

"It is learnt that a change of government has to be done by May 18, tomorrow although the date has nothing to do with Kedah," he said.

The May 18 reference is to the one-day parliamentary sitting where Langkawi MP Mahathir's motion for a vote of no confidence against Muhyiddin has been rejected.

"Perhaps they were clumsy to topple the MB in Kedah as a birthday gift to the premier?" Mukhriz asked, citing Muhyiddin's 73rd birthday on May 16. - Mkini