Change in Kedah govt is justified, ends speculation - Political analysts

Senior lecturer in policy affairs, politics and international studies at the Centre of International Studies, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Md Shukri Shuib said this change will contribute to political stability which will be good for the people.

He said political developments in Kedah have taken a long time compared to other states like Johor, Melaka and Perak which also saw a change in government following the change at the federal level.

"I feel that all parties realise that the Kedah government will change too, following changes in the federal government, but politics in Kedah is slightly different from the other states, which is why the changes are just happening now and not earlier.

"In Kedah, we have personalities like former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir as Bersatu deputy president who are very well-respected by the people and the state political leaders," he told Bernama when contacted here yesterday.

Md Shukri added that the decision will benefit the people who need the state government to have a strong relationship with the federal government to ensure more effective development for the state.

However, he reminded the new state government to be cautious and not be over-excited over the events on Tuesday as it could create confusion and unhappiness among the people here.

Meanwhile, head of the Governance and Integrity Cluster in the Centre of Government, UUM, Prof Dr Ahmad Marthadha Mohamed, said the change in government was expected, but stressed that it should be within the constitution.

He said it should be the new government's priority to focus on political stability and resolve all the issues which have been plaguing the people, including the lack of jobs and sustainability of life for the people in the time of COVID-19.

"Actually, the people are not too concerned about politics, what they want is political stability which will which assure a better life for them, especially in these tiring times," he said.

Ahmad Marthada also conveyed his sympathies to Mukhriz who had to give up his Kedah Menteri Besar post twice, but said anything can happen in politics.

"The people are not really too concerned about politics, but what they are hoping for is political stability which ensures their livelihoods, especially in current times."

"The first time he became menteri besar, many people did not think he would be toppled and when he became menteri besar for the second time, nobody thought that he would be toppled yet again.

"In politics, anything can happen and nobody can predict what will happen in the future," he said.

Earlier yesterday, 19 of the 36 Kedah state assemblymen announced their loss in confidence in Mukhriz's leadership.

In a press conference later, Kedah opposition chief Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said they comprised 15 PAS state assemblymen, two from UMNO and two more from PKR who quit the party yesterday, namely Azman Nasrudin (Lunas) and Dr Robert Ling Kui Ee (Sidam).