The Malaysian Insight

TWENTY-THREE Kedah Perikatan Nasional assemblymen, including two who recently defected from PKR, are at Wisma Darul Aman, Alor Star, for an audience with Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah.

The sultan is meeting all 36 assemblymen today to determine the status of the state government.

The ruler is scheduled to meet the PN reps first before meeting the group from Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir’s faction in Bersatu and Pakatan Harapan.

The PN reps started arriving at the venue from 9.15am. They included Lunas assemblyman Azman Nasruddin and Dr Robert Ling Kui Ee (Sidam).

Both quit PKR earlier this week and declared support for PN, along with four other Bersatu assemblymen who earlier backed Mukhriz.

With the defection of the six, Mukhriz has lost the support of the majority in the state assembly.

The four Bersatu defectors are Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail (Guar Chempedak), Halimaton Saadiah Saad (Bukit Kayu Hitam), Mohd Firdaus Ahmad (Kuah, Langkawi) and Juhari Bulat (Ayer Hangat).

Opposition leader and PN’s menteri besar candidate Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor left Wisma Darul Aman about 10.40am.

Although Bersatu left PH in February, leading to the fall of the federal ruling government, Mukhriz remained the menteri besar by working with PH in the state.

He remained in the seat with the support of the four Bersatu assemblymen but has since lost his numbers following their decision to work with PN along with their party’s official line at the federal level, and the defection of the PKR duo.

At present, Mukhriz has the support of 13 reps – five from PKR, Bersatu (two), Amanah (four) and DAP (two). – May 15, 2020.