ALOR SETAR, May 11 — Kedah Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir is expected to be sworn-in as the 13th state mentri besar later today.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) sources said the swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place before Kedah Ruler Sultan Sallehuddin Badlishah at the Balairung Seri Kecil of Istana Anak Bukit here after Friday prayers, at 4pm.

Mukhriz, the youngest son of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, won both the Jitra state seat and the Jerlun parliamentary seat in the 14th general election.

PPBM insiders told Malay Mail that a Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblyman had decided to switch allegiances, giving PH the majority of support in the state assembly.

This would grant PH 19 state seats, leaving BN with two and PAS holding the remaining 15.

However, the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, declined to name the assemblyman for the time being.

Kedah BN chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah had conceded defeat earlier.

Mukhriz was sworn in as Kedah mentri besar for the first time on May 6 2013, under the BN regime, but was ousted and replaced with Ahmad Bashah on February 3 2016 for his criticising then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s policies.