KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 2 — Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir’s position as Kedah mentri besar must be determined by the state assembly as it is the same entity from which he derived his mandate, state opposition lawmaker said today.

In a joint statement today after meeting the Kedah Regency Council, the 15 assemblymen also condemned their Barisan Nasional (BN) counterparts for attempting to use undemocratic means in their bid to remove Mukhriz.

“If Datuk Seri Mukhriz was elected democratically, removing him should also be done democratically, not hurriedly, abiding the law and following the wishes of the people.

“It is not fair to follow the political will of individuals that has inconvenienced all parties including the palace and the people,” the state representatives said.

 In particular, they criticised as “not ethical” the move by Kedah Umno deputy chairman Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah who recently led a delegation of Umno division leaders to express their loss of confidence in Mukhriz.

The assemblyman compromising eight lawmakers from PAS, four from PKR, two from the DAP and one from Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) also praised the palace for its fair handling of the crisis.

The group also urged for the crisis to be immediately resolved as it would affect the administration of the state and would cause problems for the people.

The royal council met BN assemblymen yesterday, but no decision was made and a meeting with the opposition was then conducted today.

PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said in a statement today that any decision to remove a chief minister from any state must be based on a justifiable reason

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said in Penang that a confidence motion should be tabled at the Kedah legislative assembly and that the DAP would decide how to respond later if such a motion was tabled.