Pas Confident Kedah Mb Post Is Theirs For The Taking

---

ALOR SETAR: Kedah PAS is confident that the coveted Mentri Besar's post is theirs for the taking following a shift in political power at the federal level
State deputy commissioner 1 Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said they were now waiting for instruction from the central leadership on the next course of action
He said the party was maintaining a "cool" approach in dealing with the situation as the party wanted a smooth transition
The Jeneri assemblyman, who is also the state Opposition leader, said the party preferred to take over the state administration in a gentlemanly manner
"We don't want to be embroiled in the already messy political situation right now. The people are fed up
"Although we are now in a strong position in the state, we prefer to take things politely
"Kedah politics is not like other states. We practise 'politik adik-beradik', and we don't shout or call names in our state assembly unlike others," said Sanusi, who was rumoured to be among the frontrunner for the Mentri Besar post following the political realignment in Putrajaya
Out of the 36 seats, PAS has 15, PKR with seven, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) with six, Amanah with four, and two each for DAP and Umno
All it will take for the new coalition to take over is for at least two Bersatu assemblymen to team up with PAS (15) and Umno (2) to command 19 seats with a simple two-seat majority
Bersatu is now split between its president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, whose son Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir is the Mentri Besar
It remains to be seen whether the five Bersatu elected representatives would defect although Mukhriz had earlier announced his state government now comprised elected representatives from Bersatu, PKR, DAP and Amanah on Thursday (Feb 27)
When contacted, Bersatu's Ayer Hangat assemblyman Johari Bulat said they had pledged their allegiance to Mukhriz to remain as Mentri Besar
"Whatever decision by the party's central leadership, Mukhriz should be retained
"We want him to remain," he said briefly
Johari, who is also the Kedah Deputy Speaker, said an exco meeting would be held Wednesday (March 4) to discuss on the latest political development in Kedah. - Star

---