‘Mukhriz’s appointment desperate move by Pakatan Harapan’
ALOR STAR: Pakatan Harapan’s move to appoint Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir as its Kedah chairman despite not being able to agree on seat allocation, shows desperation, says Kedah Umno Youth.
Kedah Umno Youth chief Datuk Saiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin said it was strange that Pakatan leaders would agree to appoint a member of the youngest party to lead the charge in Kedah.
“Obviously, it is a desperate move by Pakatan Harapan to take advantage of Mukhriz’s status as the former menteri besar to woo voters, especially from Umno.
“I find it rather odd for opposition leaders in Kedah, especially among the PKR grassroots, to agree on Mukhriz’s appointment because PKR has the most state seats in Kedah, after Pas,” Saiful said.
He said the appointment of the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) deputy president would not work to the opposition’s advantage as Pas was obviously the strongest opposition party in Kedah.
“All these years, PKR and DAP have been riding on Pas for support... but when the Islamic party left the pact, they needed to find a new branch to cling on to, so now they are riding on Mukhriz,” he added.
Saiful said he doubted that Mukhriz would be made the menteri besar even if the opposition managed to wrest the state from Barisan Nasional in the next general election.
“PPBM is struggling to get the party organised and I truly doubt that PKR and PAN are willing to compromise the seats already in hand and the seats that they are vying for, just to make way for PPBM,” he said.
Saiful was responding to reports that the opposition pact had agreed on PPBM leading the charge in Johor, Kedah, Perak and Perlis.
Meanwhile, Kedah PKR chairman Dr Azman Ismail said the party supported Mukhriz’s appointment as the state Pakatan Harapan chairman, but acknowledged that seat allocation among the component parties had yet to be discussed.
“We abide by the Pakatan Harapan leadership’s decision and will work closely with PPBM and the two other component parties,” he said.
Azman added that Mukhriz would be announcing the state committee members’ line-up.