Mukhriz deserves credit for resolving Kedah impasse, analyst says

ALOR STAR: Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir should be credited for resolving the impasse which had clouded Kedah following Pakatan Harapan's takeover of the northern state after the 14th general election.
Political scientist Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian believes that Mukhriz played a decisive role in breaking the deadlock in Kedah as the outcome of the election only allowed a minority government to take over the state.
Pakatan through the combination of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), Parti Amanah Nasional (Amanah), PKR and DAP secured 18 state and 10 parliamentary seats while PAS has 15 and three respectively whereas Barisan Nasional through Umno has three state and two parliament constituencies.
At the state level, it means that Pakatan has 18 while PAS has 15 and BN, three – making it a tie in the 36-member state legislative assembly.
The tiebreaker came when secret balloting among the 36 elected representatives, allowed Datuk Ahmad Kassim from PKR to be appointed as the Speaker, thereby giving Pakatan the edge by one vote.
His deputy was Datuk Juhari Bulat (Pakatan - Air Hangat).
According to the Kedah state constitution, the State Speaker has voting and veto rights in the course of debates and passing of legislative bills.
Although the balloting process was a secret, observers here believed that the three Umno representatives supported Pakatan's choice of Ahmad Kassim over PAS, who had lobbied for their own candidate – Kedah PAS commissioner Dr Ahmad Fakhruddin Sheikh Fakhrurazi, who won 15 votes.
The remaining 21 votes went to Ahmad Kassim.
"Mukhriz over time has come to display good negotiating skills and humility when managing foes. During his first tenure from 2013 to 2016, he fostered close rapport with PAS and days after winning, he extended candor to Umno."
It helped as the three Umno representatives - Datuk Dr Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail (Guar Chempedak), Datuk Norsabrina Mohd Noor (Bandar Baharu) and Datuk Suraya Yaacob (Sungai Tiang) had served with him when he was part of the Umno – led government in 2013, Sivamurugan pointed out.
The three Umno representatives reportedly became the 'kingmakers' in Kedah, and helped secure Pakatan's reign in Kedah for now, said Sivamurugan.
But the situation remains complex in Kedah with PAS pushing for a national unity or collaborative government with Pakatan.
PAS ruled from 2008 until 2013 under the late Datuk Paduka Azizan Abdul Razak.
For now, Sivamurugan said that if it is true that Umno supported Mukhriz in Kedah, it comes to symbolise Umno's recognition of the New Malaysia and a new political culture which comes with it.
The politics of providing solutions rather than to divide and rule is perhaps the way forward in the New Malaysia, Sivamurugan said.
"It showed a need to work together to address the issues of the people first before any political agenda."
Kedah DAP chairperson Tan Kok Yew said that Pakatan was ready for a snap state by-election if the need arises, especially with sentiments now on their side.
"For now, there is a sense of stability and the leaders can go back to work," added Sivamurugan.
The state branded as the 'Rice Bowl' of the country is a strategic state although its income per capita is lower than Penang, Selangor or Johor.
Kedah is the main Malaysia-Thailand border crossing – the Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint allows millions of goods and services to be transacted between the town and the Sadao district in the Songkhla province of southern Thai.
The state also has the main tourism destination of the country – the isle of Langkawi, and the Kulim Hi-Tech Park for smart manufacturing where household names such as Abbot, Intel and Osram have production factories.
So, it is to the huge interest of everyone for Kedah to have a stable and business friendly government, said Sivamurugan.