ALOR SETAR: Toppling the Pakatan Harapan-led Kedah government appears to be gaining steam with all 17 PAS and Umno assemblymen meeting to plan their next move.
Big wigs attended the closed-door three-hour meeting, held at the Kedah PAS Complex in Kota Sarang Semut yesterday, from both parties.
They included PAS vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan, Kedah PAS commissioner Ahmad Yahaya and state Umno chairman Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.
Bernama quoted Ahmad Samsuri as saying after the meeting that various issues were discussed, including the state government’s position.
Asked whether the discussion touched on a new Mentri Besar candidate from PAS, he said: “For now Datuk Seri Mukhriz (Mahathir) is still the mentri besar.”
A reliable PAS source predicted that a change was likely “sometime this week”.
The source said PAS would seek an audience with Kedah Ruler Sultan Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah on the matter.
On Wednesday, Ahmad Yahaya was reported to have said that Kedah PAS was confident of taking over the state government based on the PAS-Umno Muafakat Nasional political pact.
Kedah PAS deputy commissioner 1 Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, who is the Jeneri assemblyman, is being tipped to take over as Mentri Besar in the event the Pakatan state government collapses.
PAS commands the biggest share of the 36-seat state assembly, holding 15 seats.
With Umno having two seats, Muafakat Nasional needs at least two assemblymen from either Bersatu or PKR to jump ship for a new state government to take shape.
Pakatan now has 19 seats comprising PKR (seven), Bersatu (six), Amanah (four) and DAP (two).
However, a Perikatan Nasional official has dismissed any hope of PAS helming the next state government, claiming that the Islamist party did not have Umno’s support.
“This is unless PAS and Umno can settle their differences. It is difficult right now as Umno has stated that it is not in favour of formalising the Perikatan Nasional alliance,” he added. The official said the upcoming state by-election in Chini, Pahang, would be a good testing ground for Perikatan.
Kedah DAP chief Tan Kok Yew, who is the Derga assemblyman, described any move to topple the Kedah Pakatan government as “unnecessary and a waste of time”.
“They (PAS and Umno) can convene any meeting they want, that is their right in a democracy,” he added.
Meanwhile, UUM political lecturer Prof Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani said he felt that the position of Mukhriz as mentri besar was safe for now, despite the uncertainty over the allegiance of the Pakatan assemblymen.
“We are also in the dark over the stand of the remaining Bersatu assemblymen.
“Are they supporting Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin, or are they still with party chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad?” he asked.
Big wigs attended the closed-door three-hour meeting, held at the Kedah PAS Complex in Kota Sarang Semut yesterday, from both parties.
They included PAS vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan, Kedah PAS commissioner Ahmad Yahaya and state Umno chairman Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.
Bernama quoted Ahmad Samsuri as saying after the meeting that various issues were discussed, including the state government’s position.
Asked whether the discussion touched on a new Mentri Besar candidate from PAS, he said: “For now Datuk Seri Mukhriz (Mahathir) is still the mentri besar.”
A reliable PAS source predicted that a change was likely “sometime this week”.
The source said PAS would seek an audience with Kedah Ruler Sultan Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah on the matter.
On Wednesday, Ahmad Yahaya was reported to have said that Kedah PAS was confident of taking over the state government based on the PAS-Umno Muafakat Nasional political pact.
Kedah PAS deputy commissioner 1 Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, who is the Jeneri assemblyman, is being tipped to take over as Mentri Besar in the event the Pakatan state government collapses.
PAS commands the biggest share of the 36-seat state assembly, holding 15 seats.
With Umno having two seats, Muafakat Nasional needs at least two assemblymen from either Bersatu or PKR to jump ship for a new state government to take shape.
Pakatan now has 19 seats comprising PKR (seven), Bersatu (six), Amanah (four) and DAP (two).
However, a Perikatan Nasional official has dismissed any hope of PAS helming the next state government, claiming that the Islamist party did not have Umno’s support.
“This is unless PAS and Umno can settle their differences. It is difficult right now as Umno has stated that it is not in favour of formalising the Perikatan Nasional alliance,” he added. The official said the upcoming state by-election in Chini, Pahang, would be a good testing ground for Perikatan.
Kedah DAP chief Tan Kok Yew, who is the Derga assemblyman, described any move to topple the Kedah Pakatan government as “unnecessary and a waste of time”.
“They (PAS and Umno) can convene any meeting they want, that is their right in a democracy,” he added.
Meanwhile, UUM political lecturer Prof Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani said he felt that the position of Mukhriz as mentri besar was safe for now, despite the uncertainty over the allegiance of the Pakatan assemblymen.
“We are also in the dark over the stand of the remaining Bersatu assemblymen.
“Are they supporting Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin, or are they still with party chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad?” he asked.
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