KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 — Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir should not be pressured to declare his support for Datuk Seri Najib Razak amid attacks on the prime minister’s leadership, a minister has said.
Local daily The Star’s website quoted Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin as saying that Mukhriz is aware of Najib's "situation", after the prime minister had come under attack from Mukhriz’s father, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“I believe he understands the situation and he will make a statement on his position in due time.
“He is a seasoned politician. He is aware of what is going on and I believe he will make his stance. There is no need to pressure him,” Khairy was quoted saying after a function at his ministry earlier today.
On April 12, Bukit Lada assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Lebai Sudin called for Mukhriz’s resignation over his failure so far to declare his support for Najib’s leadership.
Defence Minister and Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said yesterday that Mukhriz would be deemed to have failed if he cannot prevent Kedah Umno from splitting amid Dr Mahathir’s attacks against Najib.
Dr Mahathir, the country’s longest-serving former prime minister, has called on Najib to resign, highlighting the many “unanswered questions” on issues plaguing the administration like the debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) controversy and the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.
