Alor Setar: Bakar Bata Assemblyman Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah (pic) was named the new Menteri Besar of Kedah, Wednesday, to take over from Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Mahathir today (Thursday). The announcement was made by Kedah State Secretary Datuk Bakar Din at a press conference at Wisma Darul Aman here, soon after Mukhriz announced his resignation with immediate effect. "Following the resignation of Mukhriz as Menteri Besar, the Council of Regency has consented to the appointment of Ahmad Bashah as Menteri Besar effective Feb 4 (2016).
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"The swearing-in of the (new) Kedah Menteri Besar will be held today (Feb 4) at 10am at Istana Anak Bukit, Alor Setar," he said. Ahmad Bashah, 66, who resigned on Wednesday as Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, will become the 12th Menteri Besar of Kedah. Bakar said the appointment of Ahmad Bashah was made in accordance with Clause (1) Article 35 of the Kedah State Constitution read with Clause (2)(a) Article 37 of the same constitution. Replying to questions from reporters, Bakar said he could not provide details of the support for Mukhriz from other assemblymen from the Barisan Nasional and the opposition at their audience with the Kedah Council of Regency on Monday and Tuesday.
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"Let the details of the support be a record. You can say that Mukhriz lost support," he said.The secret ballot on the support for Mukhriz was conducted before the Kedah Council of Regency by all the BN and opposition assemblymen at Wisma Darul Aman on Monday and Tuesday.
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Mukhriz came under pressure to resign after several Kedah assemblymen, MPs and state Umno leaders led by Ahmad Bashah, who is Kedah Umno Liaison Committee Deputy Chairman, expressed no-confidence in his leadership as the Menteri Besar and Chairman of the State Umno Liaison Committee. Mukhriz said he was informed on Tuesday that he had lost majority support in the Kedah Legislative Assembly. "I was informed that I had lost majority support in the Kedah Legislative Assembly following a secret ballot by all Barisan Nasional and opposition members of the assembly before the members of the Kedah Council of Regency," he said. "My priority is to ensure the well-being of the people of Kedah. To prevent the political crisis from dragging on at the expense of the state administration and the people, I have made the decision to resign as the Menteri Besar of Kedah with immediate effect," he said. Mukhriz, 52, said he was offered a post of Deputy Minister but decided not to take it up. Mukhriz said he had not informed his father, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, that he wanted to resign as the Menteri Besar. "I did not inform him. I hope he supports (my decision). I feel like a very heavy burden has been lifted from my shoulders," he said of the resignation. Two state executive councillors, Datuk Aminuddin Omar and Datuk Suraya Yaacob, were also present at the press conference. Mukhriz also announced his resignation as President of the Kedah Football Association (KFA) and as the chairman of government-linked companies because these positions came with the post of Menteri Besar. As for his position as Chairman of the Kedah Umno Liaison Committee, he said he left that to be determined by Prime Minister and Umno President Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Mukhriz said he would remain in Umno to serve the people despite holding no position. He pledged his undivided loyalty to the Sultan of Kedah, the Tunku Temenggong of Kedah, who is the Chairman of the Kedah Council of Regency, and members of the Kedah Council of Regency. "I also pledge my continued service to all the people of Kedah Darul Aman," he said. Mukhriz, who was sworn in as the 11th Menteri Besar of Kedah on May 6, 2013, said he had discharged his responsibilities with honesty and integrity. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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