Citing loss of confidence, Kedah Umno seeks to replace Mukhriz as MB

• Kedah Umno deputy chairman Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah (centre) and Kedah Umno …

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 ― Kedah Umno leaders expressed today their loss of confidence in Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir as state mentri besar.

Kedah Umno deputy chairman Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah made the announcement at a press conference in Alor Setar today, listing three reasons for the ruling party’s move against the son of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who has been publicly criticising Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The reasons they gave were Mukhriz’s purported failure to unite Umno and the party machinery in Kedah, the lack of a strategic plan for Umno to face the 14th general election, and his purported failure to govern the state.
“That is why we gather to plead and to ask the prime minister to change the Kedah MB,” Ahmad Bashah said in a statement.
Among the Umno leaders present at the press conference were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Jamil Khir Baharom, Kedah Wanita Umno chief Datuk Maznah Abd Hamid, Kedah Umno Youth chief Datuk Shaiful Azizy Zainal Abidin and Kedah Puteri Umno chief Datin Norashimah Md Nowar.
According to Ahmad Bashah’s statement, about 100 people attended the press conference comprising Kedah Umno leaders and the majority of state and federal lawmakers from Kedah Umno.
"DS has not made a statement regarding this matter yet; he is in a meeting. He is aware of this, and when he does make a statement we will inform the press," an aide to Mukhriz told Malay Mail Online when contacted, referring to his boss by his abbreviated honorific title. yahoonews