Kedah Umno has reportedly secured sufficient statutory declarations (SD) from its assemblypersons to remove Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir from office.
According to The Star today, those opposed to the son of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has the support of BN's 19 Kedah assemblypersons, a simple majority in a 36-seat state legislature.
The English daily said Kedah Umno deputy chief Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, spearheading the move to unseat Mukhriz, has obtained the signed SDs from 17 Umno and two MCA assemblypersons.
“As of late this evening, 19 have each signed a SD stating their support for the removal of the menteri besar.
“All of them have endorsed the SD saying that they have lost confidence in Mukhriz,” The Star quoted an unnamed source saying.
The remaining two BN assemblypersons who did not sign the SDs were Jerlun assemblyperson Mukhriz and Jitra assemblyperson Aminuddin Omar.
According to the report, embattled Prime Minister and BN president Najib Abdul Razak was said to have met several assemblypersons during his Langkawi visit yesterday.
'Swearing-in being rushed'
Suraya Yaacob (Sungai Tiang), Nor Sabrina Mohd Noor (Bandar Baharu) and Hasan Sarif (Kota Siputeh) are reportedly among the last to sign the pledge against Mukhriz.
The daily also cited another source saying the group is seeking the Kedah sultan to give his approval to the new menteri besar, but the monarch has apparently requested several potential names apart from Bashah, who has been touted as the prime candidate.
Yesterday Mingguan Malaysia reported three names being put up are Guar Chempedak state assemblyperson Ku Rahman Ku Ismail, Ayer Hangat state assemblyperson Mohd Rawi Abdul Hamid and Tanjong Dawai state assemblyperson Tajul Urus Mat Zain.
The Star also mentioned Bukit Kayu Hitam assemblyperson Zaini Japar as among the names being discussed.
"It is learnt that the swearing-in ceremony is being rushed to resolve the menteri besar crisis immediately," wrote the daily.
The ousting of Mukhriz is seen as collateral damage in the open war between the BN chief and his biggest critic, predecessor Mahathir, who has been calling for Najib to resign over various scandals including 1MDB.
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