After two weeks of political turmoil in Kedah, Mukhriz Mahathir has agreed to relinquish his post as menteri besar.

Asked who will replace him, the outgoing MB said: "Ahmad Bashah Md Hanapiah. I hope he won't doze off while taking the oath."

Bashah, who led the call for Mukhriz's resignation, is the Kedah Umno deputy chief.

Mukhriz's remark was a reference to claims on pro-Mukhriz blogs that Bashah had frequently fallen sleep during meetings.

Mukhriz made the announcement at a press conference at the state administrative office in Wisma Darul Aman today, ending the long-fought battle with Kedah Umno leaders who wanted him to step down.

He decided to quit after being informed by the Regency Council that he has lost the confidence of the majority of the state's assemblypersons.

Twenty-one BN and 15 opposition assemblypersons out of the 36-member state legislative assembly expressed their views to the Kedah Regency Council on Monday and Tuesday.

When asked on Mukhriz's advice not too doze off at the swearing-in ceremony, Bashah said: "Nevermind, no comment."

This is what Bashah said on Mukhriz's advice to not doze off during the swearing-in ceremony https://t.co/84e9Vkib0F pic.twitter.com/dowuNTEXUT

— malaysiakini.com (@malaysiakini) February 3, 2016

State secretary Bakar Din said the swearing-in ceremony will be tomorrow.

Yesterday, the opposition representatives said they wanted the MB crisis to be resolved by tabling a vote of no-confidence against Mukhriz in the state assembly.

Speculation that Kedah will be getting a new MB today was rife last night after Mukhriz cancelled the state executive council's meeting this morning.

The son of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad first came into office on May 6, 2013, after the 13th national polls, where BN managed to seize the state from PAS.

To many political observers, Mukhriz is a victim of the long-drawn verbal war between Prime Minister Najib Razak and Mahathir, but Kedah Umno claimed that the MB was unable to unite the party and lacked strategies to develop the state.

Mahathir, who at one time supported Najib, has now become his fiercest critic, especially after allegations of Najib's involvement in the 1MDB scandal and the RM2.6 billion donation from Saudi royal family which was deposited into his personal bank accounts before the GE13.

Last week, attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali cleared Najib of the scandals.

Official statement by the outgoing Kedah MB Mukhriz Mahathir. Read more here: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/329189

Posted by Malaysiakini on Tuesday, 2 February 2016

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