The chances of Pakatan Harapan seizing Kedah from BN in the coming 14th general election (GE14) is 100 percent positive because of several major reasons, including the "Dr M factor", an MP from PKR argued.

Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul said since the Menteri Besar crisis of 2016, where Mukhriz Mahathir was unceremoniously replaced by Ahmad Bashah Hanapiah, the northern state has not seen much improvement.

"People can see the change from someone better to one who is worse. Kedahans expected better results when BN gave them a new MB but it is obvious, in terms of academic status and work performance, that the current leader is not the right one," Johari told Malaysiakini in an interview at his office in Sungai Petani.

The PKR advisor said Kedahans are not adverse to change as they have experienced the situation in the past, like other Malaysians in Penang, Perak, Selangor, Kelantan and Terengganu.

"We have gone over the threshold and we can certainly do it again," Johari said with a smirk.

The other reason why Kedahans may opt for change is a national one, the rising cost of living and the financial strain of the goods and services tax, among other things, he said.

But the new factor which will spur Kedahans to reconsider a change in the state government, he added, is the return of one of the state's brilliant sons, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad...