Kedah Umno leaders underestimated the royalty, who have become increasingly proactive following the 1MDB crisis, in their bid to oust state Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir, says veteran newsman A Kadir Jasin.

“They seem to have forgotten or ignored the fact that the Malay rulers have become more proactive and radical in facing the country’s crisis following the 1MDB scandal.

“The majority of Malay rulers have begun exercising their constitutional right, discretion and moral authority in matters of governance,” he said in a blog posting today.

He said this in reference to the faltering rebellion after the Kedah regency council did not immediately comply with the top Umno leadership’s request and instead summoned all state assemblypersons including the opposition to gauge support for Mukhriz.

The 15 opposition state assemblypersons have refused to back the bid to oust Mukhriz and asked Umno to instead table a vote of no-confidence in the 36-member state assembly.

Half of BN’s state assemblypersons, who were met by the regency council individually, also reportedly said that they were not in favour of ousting Mukhriz.

Kadir said the rebels may have also underestimated the regency council in the absence of Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah who is presently serving as Agong.

The Conference of Rulers had in October last year issued an unprecedented statement, urging the investigations into 1MDB to be expedited.

Ultimately, Kadir said the attempted removal of Mukhriz was part of Najib’s plan to purge his opponents.

Mukhriz’s father, former premier Mahathir Mohamad, has accused Najib of misapproriating 1MDB’s funds and vowed to unseat him as prime minister.

Kadir claimed there was also a “black operation” to remove Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob, Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohamad Hasan and Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir who are suspected of not being loyal to Najib.

“Unfortunately for Najib and the conspirators to grab power, the boys in Kedah acted too fast without coordinating in other states,” he said.