PH forms govt in Kedah, Mukhriz back as MB
ALOR SETAR: Just like his father, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir also created his own history when he was appointed as the 13th Menteri Besar of Kedah yesterday after Pakatan Harapan (PH) led by him in the state succeeded in forming the state government.
Mukhriz, 53, took the oath of office as the Menteri Besar for the secnd time before Sultan Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah of Kedah in a ceremony steeped in tradition at Balairung Seri Kecil, Istana Anak Bukit here.
Gracing the historic occasion were the Sultanah of Kedah, Sultanah Maliha Tengku Ariff and Raja Muda Kedah Datuk Tengku Sarafuddin Badlishah Sultan Sallehuddin.
Also present were Tunku Bendahara Kedah, Tan Sri Tunku Abdul Hamid Thani Sultan Badlishah, Tunku Temenggong Kedah, Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz Almarhum Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah and Tunku Laksamana Kedah, Datuk Tunku Shazuddin Ariff Sultan Sallehuddin.
Mukhriz, who had been state Umno chief before, was first appointed MB of Kedah in May 2013 after the Barisan Nasional wrested the state from the ruling opposition Pakatan Rakyat pact then in the 13th general election.
At the federal level, his father Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was sworn in as Malaysia’s seventh prime minister at Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Dr Mahathir created history becoming prime minister of Malaysia for the second time, this time after winning the general election on the opposition platform.
Mukhriz’s appointment as the new MB ended the wait of Kedahans on the formation the state government as no parties had won a simple majority in the general election on Wednesday.
Pakatan Harapan won 18 out of the 36 seats in the state the assembly while Barisan Nasional, which was in power only three. Another party, PAS, secured 15 seats. Mukhriz won the Jerlun parliamentary seat and Jitra state seat.
Mukhriz’s wife Tok Puan Norzieta Zakaria and other state PH leaders were in attendance. — Bernama