EMBATTLED Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir will be the last of all state assemblymen to have an audience with Kedah ruler Sultan Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah at 4.30pm today.

The meeting at Wisma Darul Aman in Alor Setar is for the ruler to determine the status of the state government.

The sultan had earlier met all the remaining 35 assemblymen.

He first met 23 Perikatan Nasional (PN) elected reps, including two who had recently defected from PKR, this morning.

Later at 3pm, he met the remaining Pakatan Harapan (PH) elected reps.

Mukhriz’s position as menteri besar has become shaky following the defection of former PKR assemblymen Azman Nasrudding (Lunas) and Robert Ling (Sidam) to PN.

Another four Bersatu assemblymen, who earlier backed Mukhriz, have also switched sides.

With the defection of the six, Mukhriz has lost majority support in the state assembly.

The four Bersatu defectors are Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail (Guar Chempedak), Halimaton Saadiah Saad (Bukit Kayu Hitam), Mohd Firdaus Ahmad (Kuah, Langkawi) and Juhari Bulat (Ayer Hangat).

Although Bersatu left PH in February, leading to the fall of the federal ruling government, Mukhriz remained the menteri besar by working with PH in the state.

He remained in the seat with the support of the four Bersatu assemblymen but has since lost his numbers following their decision to work with PN along with their party’s official line at the federal level, and the defection of the PKR duo.

At present, Mukhriz has the support of 13 reps – five from PKR, Bersatu (two), Amanah (four) and DAP (two). – May 15, 2020.