THE Kedah government today denied a message that has gone viral on social media that Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir will take over as home minister from Muhyiddin Yassin, who has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

State Youth and Sports, Tourism and Culture, and Entrepreneurial Development committee chairman Mohd Asmirul Anuar Aris said the state government led by Mukhriz was functioning as usual.

“It is all just a rumour… this has happened before and is normal in politics, but so far, there are no changes in the state government administration.

“What is important is that the present menteri besar (Mukhriz) is with the state government and his father, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is with the federal government. So, that makes it easy to do (development) work in the state,” he said at the launch of  state-level National Sports Day programme in Alor Star today.

Menteri besar press officer Mohd Fisol Jaafar said the message which began to go viral on Thursday is slanderous, false and mischievous.

“Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) has also issued a statement and denied the claims on its official Facebook account, with a photo with the word ‘Fitnah’ (slander),” he said.

According to the message, Sungai Petani MP and Gurun state assemblyman Johari Abdul will take over from Mukhriz as menteri besar, and that Muhyiddin will relinquish his post due to health reasons. – Bernama, October 13, 2018.