'Tis the season for betrayal - Mukhriz says after Bersatu reps turn on him

Kedah Menteri Besar and Bersatu deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir has branded the four Bersatu assemblypersons who expressed a loss of confidence in him as “traitors”.

“How would someone feel when betrayed by their own friends?

“This had happened before at the federal level, and now it is happening at the state level.

“It has become musim pengkhianatan (a season for betrayal) since the start of 2020. This has not been a good year for the country,” he said during a press conference in Alor Setar this afternoon.

The conference was live-streamed on Facebook.

Yesterday, PAS Jeneri assemblyperson Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor announced that 23 Kedah assemblypersons - including four from Bersatu - had signed statutory declarations stating a loss of confidence in Mukhriz’s leadership.

Sanusi thus claimed that the Bersatu-Pakatan Harapan state government had fallen after losing its majority in the 36-seat state legislative assembly.

Two Bersatu representatives - Mohd Firdaus Ahmad (Kuah) and Halimaton Shaadiah Saad (Bukit Kayu Hitam) have since confirmed Sanusi’s statement.

The four other Bersatu representatives in Kedah are Juhairi Bulat (Ayer Hangat), Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (Guar Chempedak), Amiruddin Hamzah (Anak Bukit) and Mukhriz himself (Jitra).

Mukhriz's father Dr Mahathir Mohamad previously branded Muhyiddin Yassin a traitor for getting Bersatu MPs to back the latter as prime minister during the "Sheraton Move" coup. 

Mukhriz (right) and his father Dr Mahathir Mohamad

Yesterday, Sidam assemblyperson Dr Robert Ling Kui Ee and Lunas assemblyperson Azman Nasrudin also withdrew their support for Mukhriz after announcing their departure from PKR.

Firdaus, Halimaton and Azman are executive councillors in the state government.

Mukhriz said today that he will not be sacking the trio as the issue had become “academic” but did not explain further.

He questioned why the coup was launched during Ramadan and at a time when the state government was dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak.

“They said they did not rush into this. But if that is true, why did they not wait till after Hari Raya Aidilfitri? [...]

“PAS also mentioned that this needs to be settled before May 18. Why?

“May 18 is the date for the Parliament sitting, what has that got to do with us?” he asked.

Sanusi, who is tipped to replace Mukhriz, said yesterday that he hopes the Kedah government crisis will be resolved by next Monday. - Mkini