Kedah opposition assemblypersons met with the Regency Council at Wisma Darul Aman today and expressed their stand on Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir, who the Kedah Umno is attempting to oust.

PAS Alor Mengkudu assemblyman Ahmad Yahya said the 15 opposition reps are for the MB crisis to be brought to the state assembly to seek a vote of confidence for Mukhriz's leadership.

"We are all in consensus that the manner in which Kedah Umno wants to remove Mukhriz is unceremonious and undemocratic," he told reporters at a press conference outside the building.

"Just as he was elected democratically, the manner in which to remove Mukhriz must also be done democratically, not rushed while respecting the will of the people," he added.

"Just because they want to fulfil the wishes of one individual, they are willing to cause difficulties not only to the people but for the Regency as well," Ahmad Yahya said.

The meeting with the assemblypersons started at 3pm in the same building where 21 BN assemblypersons, including Mukhriz and speaker Mohd Rofi Suffian, met with the Regency Council yesterday.

No decision was reached then and the council requested to meet with the opposition assembly representatives today.

There are eight PAS reps, with Parti Amanah Negara (one), DAP (two), and PKR (four) making up the rest.

However, only 13 met with the Regency Council today. State opposition leader and PAS Anak Bukit assemblyperson Amiruddin Hamzah is in Kuala Lumpur until Feb 8, while Bukit Selambau PKR assemblyperson Dr R Krishnamoorthy is overseas.

Burden on people

Ahmad said these two reps had also conveyed their stand to the council.

He added that what was more urgent was the removal of Prime Minister Najib Razak and not Mukhriz, as the premier's actions and policies were a burden on the people.

"We urge the MB crisis to be resolved as soon as possible as prolonging it will cripple the state administration and will not benefit the people.

"If the move to resolve the crisis reaches a stalemate, then the laws of Kedah would have to be invoked, and that could lead to a vote of no confidence in the MB in the state legislative assembly," he said.

He added that the opposition's stand has been conveyed to the Regency Council.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the assemblypersons were all asked two questions - whether they had lost confidence in Mukhriz and whether they wanted him replaced, with the session taking not more than five minutes.

Amanah's Pengkalan Kundur assemblyman Phahrolrazi Zawawi also disclosed he was asked by the council if he supported the movement by Kedah Umno to unseat Mukhriz.

"Each person met the council for about five minutes and everyone was asked their own personal opinion," added the Amanah state deputy chief.

PKR chief Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had also remarked that the party reps would support the present government led by Mukhriz, who is the son of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

At a separate press conference, DAP's Derga assemblyperson Tan Kok Yew said the Kedah MB should be removed with proper procedures which are in line with state laws.

"We have expressed our stand to the Kedah Regency Council but we will not reveal the details out of respect for the regency," said Tan.

"We maintain our stand that Umno must settle their internal problems and bring the matter to the state assembly before tabling a vote of no-confidence," he added.

Accompanying him was DAP's Kota Darul Aman assemblyperson Tan Boon Kok.

With regards to the crisis, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that PAS and PKR could not decide for DAP as its assemblypersons have made their own stand.