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PETALING JAYA (STAR / ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – The gloves have been removed for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and he is preparing to fight back after hostile movements from the Tun Mahathir Mohamad camp last week.
Kedah, which is still a Pakatan Harapan (PH) state government, is targeted by Tan Sri Muhyiddin and Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir is known to come out as Kedah menteri kiss in the middle of next week.
If all goes well, the new menteri kissing is likely to be Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, Assemblyman Jeneri of Parti Islam Semalaysia (PAS).
Mr. Sanusi, who cut his political teeth as political secretary to the late Kenterh PAS menteri kissing Azizan Abdul Razak, is expected to make the necessary courtesy call to the Sultan of Kedah in the coming days.
The incoming state government led by the Muhyiddin Perikatan Nasional (PN) alliance will consist of 15 PAS Assembly members, four from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, two from Umno and two other legislators from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
With a total of 23 assemblymen, PN will have a solid 10-man majority in the 36-seat state assembly.
Mr. Mukhriz’s government would have collapsed much earlier if he had not asked Chief Minister Azmin Ali for help to cling to Kedah.
It was learned that Datuk Seri Azmin approached PAS and Umno to maintain the status quo and give Mr. Mukhriz a chance.
PAS sources said Mukhriz had even offered them seats on the state executive council, but PAS President Hadi Awang said his party was not interested in working with Parti Amanah Negara, a separatist PAS party.
Those who cooperated with Mukhriz think that he has not appreciated what they did and that he took them for granted.
This will be the second time that Mukhriz has had to prematurely leave the state’s most important job.
He was menteri kissing for just three years between 2013 and 2016, before being fired by Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Back then, Mr. Mukhriz’s problems started because his father, Dr. Mahathir, had quarreled with Najib.
It is ironic that the script and even some of the actors have not changed much from then until now: Dr. Mahathir is now trying to overthrow Mr. Muhyiddin, and Mr. Mukhriz is once again the sacrificial lamb.
The move to give PAS the best job will be a good optic for PN and would send a signal that the coalition believes in sharing power.
Prime Minister Muhyiddin had adopted a policy of non-intervention in Kedah despite the fact that the PH state government of Mukhriz no longer sent the majority.
Muhyiddin, the president of Bersatu, was still hoping for a reconciliation with his party president, Dr. Mahathir, and had left the Kedah government alone as a gesture of goodwill.
But everything changed earlier this week after Dr. Mahathir filed a motion for a vote of no confidence against Muhyiddin’s position as prime minister.
It was a declaration of war and pushed Muhyiddin to take the bull by the horns by moving against Mukhriz.
It is unclear how the impending development will affect Mukhriz’s chances in his bid to challenge Muhyiddin for the Bersatu presidency in party polls later this year.
Muhyiddin is not only going for Mukhriz, but is also preparing to face Dr. Mahathir in Parliament on May 18 in the one-day session.
The President has allowed the old man’s motion against Muhyiddin, a move widely seen as a sign that Muhyiddin is confident in his numbers.
PH has been silent on whether they will join behind Dr. Mahathir.
It’s a Catch-22 situation for PH. They will look bad if they don’t vote on the motion, but if they do, it would be considered as an indirect endorsement of Dr. Mahathir’s leadership.
PH has endorsed PKR chief Anwar Ibrahim as the leader of the opposition in a letter to the President on May 4.
The coalition is unlikely to want to give Dr. Mahathir the impression that they want him back as their leader.
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