‘Mukhriz has a month to accept Perikatan offer’

ALOR SETAR: Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir (pic) has been given a month to consider an offer to join Perikatan Nasional and keep his position, according to sources.

Perikatan insiders revealed that Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, who joined Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia after being sacked from PKR, had been given the task of persuading Mukhriz while Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin worked to reconcile with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the federal level.

A source said while Kedah remains a Pakatan Harapan-ruled state for now, a change of government was inevitable “with or without Mukhriz”.

“If Mukhriz cannot be lured to our side, the change will happen anyway with all five Bersatu and three PKR reps crossing over to Perikatan.”

It was understood that whatever decision on Kedah will be based on how Dr Mahathir responds to Muhyiddin’s attempts to coax the elder statesman back into being on good terms.

The Prime Minister has sent a letter to Dr Mahathir expressing his desire to mend their strained ties.

Mukhriz, Bersatu Armada chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and party secretary-general Datuk Marzuki Yahya are among the notable leaders who are against Muhyiddin.

Meanwhile, Kedah Pakatan chairman Datuk Johari Abdul has reiterated his commitment to the current state government.

He had made it clear that he was committed to the coalition and supported Mukhriz as mentri besar.

He dismissed talk about him crossing over to form a state government with Perikatan.

Kedahans have been hearing talk about a new deal being brokered between Johari and Perikatan through negotiation with PAS.

Kedah PAS has denied that such a meeting ever took place.