Now, Mukhriz faces a challenge in his own state, with about a hundred Kedah Umno leaders present at a press conference on Tuesday where it was announced that he had lost their confidence. Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, who made the announcement, claimed that Mukhriz had failed to unify the party arms throughout the state, that he had no strategic planning in mind to face the coming general election, and that he had managed the state government poorly.
It is important to note that among those who made their presence noticeable at the press conference were Ghazali Ibrahim, Johari Baharom, Azeez Rahim, Jamil Khir Baharom, Rozai Shafian, Norashimah Mohd Nowar, Shaiful Azizy Zainal Abidin and Maznah Abdul Hamid. These are known Najib supporters. As members of the party, they are of course entitled to their point of view, and if they truly have lost confidence in Mukhriz’s leadership, they are entitled to that view as well.
However, the move could have been prompted by one of three things. One is that the state leadership in Kedah is truly falling apart, and the blame lies squarely on Mukhriz. If this is the case, then the media have much to answer for. The collapse of the Kedah state leadership is a whopper of a news story and it slipped right under our noses.
Second, this could merely be the latest move in a series of calculated manoeuvres to consolidate power around Najib. From the Cabinet reshuffle last July to the forcing through of the National Security Council Bill, the Prime Minister has been consolidating executive power under his wing, and Mukhriz represents one of the last holdouts against his “loyalty first” agenda. The almost inquisitorial stance of Najib’s loyalists has made sure that the PM stands stronger than he has ever been as the executive head of the country, and a Menteri Besar who does not fall in line is certainly not welcome in Umno any more.
The third possible scenario is that Mukhriz is merely the latest casualty in the war of attrition between Mahathir and Najib. Given that much of the conflict has been fought by proxies, it is not unlikely that those loyal to Najib have decided to remove the uncertain element in the current power structure.
The Kedah warlords have appealed to the Prime Minister to take action and remove Mukhriz from all positions in the state party leadership, ultimately stripping him of his post as Menteri Besar. Instead of calling for a no-confidence vote, they are asking the PM to take executive action against an elected official.
One thing is for sure: if the call for Mukhriz’s sacking is politically motivated and not due to incompetent leadership, the grand old man of Malaysian politics will not be pleased. Then again, it is unlikely that Najib cares any more about what pleases or displeases Mahathir, and the war between the two will continue regardless of whether Mukhriz remains as MB of Kedah.