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KUALA LUMPUR: Mukhriz Mahathir has lost control over the Kedah state government after two Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) assemblymen jumped on Tuesday (May 12).
As a joint press conference, Sidam Assemblyman Robert Ling Kui Ee and Lunas Assemblyman Azman Nasrudin announced their decision to leave PKR.
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Both assemblymen are said to be aligned with former PKR vice president and current senior minister Azmin Ali.
The Star reported that the two assemblymen were inclined to join the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
Azman told reporters that he lost confidence in PKR, led by Anwar Ibrahim.
“Since he started leading in 2018, the party has gotten worse,” he said.
He also added that the way Muhyiddin handled the COVID-19 pandemic in recent months is proof that he is a capable prime minister and leader.
Both Dr. Ling and Mr. Azman said, “Goodbye PKR, Goodbye Anwar Ibrahim. Goodbye, long live Muhyiddin Yassin. Long live Perikatan Nasional.”
The Kedah State Assembly has 36 seats. Of this, 19 were retained by Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) and the National Organization of the United Malays (UMNO), both under Perikatan Nasional (PN), have 15 and two seats respectively. The two additional seats will be enough for PN to form a new state government.
Supporters of Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Mukhriz, the president and vice president of Bersatu, respectively, disagree with those who support Muhyiddin. The split in the party came after Muhyiddin’s decision to partner with Barisan Nasional (BN) and PAS to form the new ruling government earlier this year.
According to press reports, the leaders of the Bersatu party are considering firing Dr. Mahathir and Mr. Mukhriz.
Kedah, Prime Minister Mukhriz Mahathir. (Stock Photo: Bernama)
This is the second time that Mukhriz could be removed as prime minister in Kedah.
Previously, he held the post of Prime Minister from 2013 to 2016, before being fired by Prime Minister Najib Razak.
The consequences occurred when her father, Dr. Mahathir, attempted to overthrow Najib from his position.
READ: Multiple realignments in Malaysian state assemblies after change in federal power
On May 4, Dr. Ling, who was also chief of the PKR Sungai Petani, had openly criticized the party for firing several party members, including his deputy Firdaus Yusoff.
Firdaus was named coordinator of Kedah Pemuda Negara, a non-governmental organization led by Azmin’s right-hand man, Hilman Idham.
As for Mr. Azman, he was one of the leaders who followed a strike by Mr. Azmin’s faction on the last day of the PKR congress in Melaka last year. Azman openly criticized PKR general secretary Saifuddin Nasution Ismail for receiving a party “achievement award” instead of Azmin.
Kedah is the fourth state to fall from PH administration after Johor, Perak and Melaka.
