Mukhriz ready for uphill battle
Ex-Kedah MB in for a tough fight but feels upbeat with the mood of voters
ALOR SETAR: Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir constantly wore a wide smile as he made his way through the Pasar Besar, greeting traders and shoppers alike.
The walkabout was to survey the water woes plaguing the large market, but Mukhriz’s team was clearly promoting their leader, giving out flyers on Pakatan Harapan.
Back in the state he once helmed and where his new party is mounting an ambitious challenge against Barisan Nasional in the coming polls, the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Pribumi) deputy president is well aware that he and the other Pakatan component parties are in for a tough fight.
“We are going up against huge names, for sure.
“Pribumi alone will be facing two ministers and two deputy ministers but we are up for the challenge and believe we are able to break through,” he told The Star after the walkabout on Saturday.
Kedah’s two Cabinet members are Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom (Jerai) and Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid (Padang Terap).
It also has two deputy ministers, namely Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Othman Aziz (Jerlun) and Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Baharum (Kubang Pasu).
Mukhriz had contested and won Jerlun in 2008 under Barisan, and in 2013 gave way to Othman to contest the parliamentary seat.
In the last election, Mukhriz contested the state seat of Ayer Hitam, and defeated PAS incumbent Abd Ghani Ahmad by 2,446 votes.
Mukhriz was sworn in as Kedah Mentri Besar after Barisan reclaimed the state government from PAS that election, and held the post until February 2016 when he resigned after losing majority support among the assemblymen.
Asked about the upcoming general election, Mukhriz noted that Pakatan is “feeling upbeat” about its chances of taking over Kedah, despite the threat of PAS causing three-cornered fights.
“Going by the response we are getting directly from the rakyat, I think they are more than ready to make that change.
“Sentiments on the ground indicate that they cannot wait for elections to be called, and we are feeling positive that we can do it (take over Kedah) this time,” he said.
Although he remains tight-lipped on where he will contest, Mukhriz said: “I have an idea but I’m not ready to disclose that yet.”
There is speculation that Mukhriz will either contest his previous parliamentary seat of Jerlun, his previous state seat of Ayer Hitam, or possibly both parliament and state seats.
His father, Pribumi president and Kedahan Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is said to be eyeing the parliamentary seat of Langkawi, in a place he is credited with developing when he was prime minister.
Some, however, believe he may return to his long-time parliamentary seat of Kubang Pasu, or even take on the big guns in Putrajaya by contesting there instead.
Kedah has 36 state seats, and Mukhriz confirmed that Pribumi will have the biggest slice of the pie among the Pakatan allies.
“Pribumi will have 14 seats, PKR and Parti Amanah Negara, 10 seats each, while DAP will have the remaining two,” he said.