Mukhriz must be professional and state stand on April 24 - political analysts

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir must be professional and state his loyalty to prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on April 24.

A political analyst from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) College of Law, Government and International Studies, Prof Madya Dr Ahmad Martadha Mohamad said this was because he was appointed by Najib as Menteri Besar.

"Professionally, Mukhriz must issue a statement supporting Najib because he was appointed by Najib. He must state his loyalty to the Prime Minister.

"His relation with his father on the other hand is personal and cannot be mingled with his professional post as Menteri Besar.

They are two different matters," the political analyst told Bernama when contacted Saturday.

Mukhriz's action in issuing an official statement of the Kedah UMNO support for the prime minister on April 24 would eliminate numerous negative perceptions and speculations arising today, said Ahmad Martadha.

Recently, the Menteri Besar stated that he would only state the Kedah UMNO official stand on the support for the Prime Minister's leadership on April 24 after a meeting with the state UMNO leaders in Kuala Lumpur.

However, on Thursday, the three wings of Kedah UMNO, after meeting Mukhriz, urged the Menteri Besar to cancel his intention and focus on administering the state.

The Kedah UMNO Youth, Wanita and Puteri were also worried the statement to be made by Mukhriz on April 24 would be manipulated by certain quarters.

Dr Martadha felt that the three wings of Kedah UMNO should not oppose the matter but on the other hand should agree with the decision of the Menteri Besar to issue a statement on April 24.

The statement to be issued by Mukhriz, who is also Kedah UMNO Liaison Committee chairman, he said, would show the unity of the state UMNO because it would be a view achieved through consensus.

He said the unity of Kedah UMNO was still firm and strong despite being affected by problems currently.

In fact, he said the statement of Bukit Lada State Assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Lebai Sudin urging Mukhriz to resign if he failed to support Najib did not impact deeply on Kedah UMNO.

The political leaders in the state, he said, must acknowledge the important role played by Mukhriz in ensuring Kedah returned to the Barisan Nasional (BN) fold in the 2013 general election.

"This was why Mukhriz was appointed as Kedah Menteri Besar much earlier and it was among the factors which brought victory to BN in the state in 2013," he said, adding, Mukhriz had administered Kedah well and spurred its economy.

Ahmad Martadha advised those with problem with the incessant criticisms by Dr Mahathir on the government not to drag Mukhriz into the cauldron of political disputes, because, professionally, the two were different.