Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said today he is convinced that new Kedah Menteri Besar Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah has the capability to bring more progress to Kedah.

He said he believed that Ahmad Bashah could carry out his duties effectively for the welfare and betterment of the people.

"My colleagues and I (in the federal government) extend our congratulations to Ahmad Bashah as the new Menteri Besar and wish him well in carrying out his duties," he said at the outset of his speech when opening Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) Paya Besar in Lunas, Kulim.

Ahmad Bashah, Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid, Health Minister and MIC president Dr S Subramaniam and Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan were also present at the event.

Ahmad Bashah, 66, who is the state assemblyperson for Bakar Bata, was sworn-in yesterday as the 12th menteri besar of Kedah at Istana Anak Bukit in Alor Setar, replacing Mukhriz Mahathir who had resigned a day earlier citing loss of majority support in the state legislative assembly.

- Bernama