Bukit Lada assemblyperson Ahmad Lebai Sudin denied he had urged Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir to step down because he wants the state’s top post for himself.

 

The Umno lawmaker over the weekend demanded Mukhriz resign if he does not support Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is under attack by Mukhriz’s father and former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

 

Ahmad ( right ) stressed he is not keen on the post and reiterated that only Najib, who is Umno president, can decide who will be selected as menteri besar.

 

“(The decision of who should take) the menteri besar’s position is the right of the prime minister, it is not our right.

 

“Even if I urge him (to appoint me), if he says I won’t be menteri besar, it won’t happen,” Ahmad told Malaysiakini .

 

He was commenting on Cheras Umno division chief Syed Ali Alhabshee, who yesterday claimed that Ahmad had a personal agenda behind his attacks on Mukhriz.

 

‘Why dilly dally, Mukhriz?’

 

Ahmad explained that he did not mean for Mukhriz to backstab his father, but for the MB to show solidarity with the party chief.

 

“If we support the party leader, the party will be strong. We (the party) understand Mahathir is your father, but this is not a question of filial disloyalty (derhaka).

 

“In politics, we have to know how to care for the people and the nation. But this is about the party. Just show support, it’s not hard. Why dilly dally?” he asked.

 

Responding to Ahmad, Mukhriz ( left ) said Kedah Umno will meet again on April 24 to voice their support for the PM, ahead of the Umno supreme council meeting that day.

 

But Ahmad said this is too late, because Kedah MPs who will be part of that April 24 meeting have already declared support for Najib.

 

“So why wait further? Just voice your support,” he said.

 

Mukhriz, who has thus far remained silent, has come under increasing pressure to voice his stand on his father’s increasing attacks and calls for Najib to step down.