Be magnanimous in resolving Kedah MB crisis, Mukhriz told

Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir should be magnanimous enough to place UMNO unity above his own interests in order to prevent the political crisis in Kedah from escalating, said a political analyst.

Holder of the Tun Abdul Razak Chair and visiting political science professor at the University of Ohio in the United States Prof Dr Jayum Jawan said Mukhriz's resignation as menteri besar would be the best solution to resolving the crisis.

"By doing so (resigning), Mukhriz will be able to uphold his dignity and integrity as a leader because it's clear that he does not enjoy the support of all the UMNO division leaders in Kedah," he told Bernama.

Since Jan 20, Kedah's political scene has been heating up following a declaration by the state UMNO leadership that it had lost confidence in Mukhriz as menteri besar and state UMNO Liaison Committee Chairman.

READ: Plotters to oust Mukhriz caused UMNO to lose Kedah in 2008 - Dr Mahathir

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Jayum, who is also deputy head of the National Council of Professors' Political, Security and International Affairs Cluster, said he expected Mukhriz to give priority to party unity as he (Mukhriz) had previously stressed that he would always be loyal to UMNO.

READ: Kedah UMNO tussle: Why the Mukhriz Mahathir issue is important to all Malaysians

Mukhriz, who is the State Assemblyman for Ayer Hitam, had reportedly said that he was ready to accept whatever decision pertaining to the political developments in Kedah.