Mukhriz says 'no other option' but to criticise

PETALING JAYA: Ousted Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir said criticisms made against Umno and its president Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak was made publicly as 'there was no other option'.
Stating that he has been doing so while helming the Kedah Mentri Besar post and Kedah Umno Liaison chairman position, Mukhriz said this was done to 'strengthen the party'.
"We hear several (party) leaders including ministers who encouraged its members to follow proper channels in voicing out concerns.
"But what are the channels to use, if even in the party's General Assembly, the deputy president (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) was not allowed to speak?" he asked, adding that even the debates in the assembly were not aired publicly.
He pointed out that the only way to do so is during closed door meetings.
"But if all these all blocked ... there is no choice but to voice it out in the public.
"This is to express the grouses of the rakyat ... I do not represent myself, but this is the voice of the people," Mukhriz said in a video clip entitled 'Tegur PM Lagi Banyak Ruang Untuk Bersuara Bila Tidak Berjawatan' which was posted on Sunday.
Mukhriz also noted that since he no longer held any position in the Kedah state government or in the state Umno, he now has 'more space to speak out'.
When asked by reporters in the clip, Mukhriz alleged that he was not officially informed of being dropped as Kedah Umno liaison chairman.
"I was not informed ... I guess that is the way now.
"I found out through whatsapp messages," he added.
On Feb 3, Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah was sworn in as Kedah's Mentri Besar to replace Mukhriz, while over a week later, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor announced through a statement that Ahmad Bashah would replace Mukhriz as state party liaison chairman.