MUKHRIZ Mahathir is geared up to challenge Muhyiddin Yassin for the post of Bersatu president in the coming party polls.

He said losing the Kedah menteri besar seat will not deter him from putting up a fight against Muhyiddin.

He added he is more eager to contest the position during the polls that will take place once the Covid-19 outbreak improves.

The Registrar of Societies has instructed all political parties to postpone meetings, seminars and conventions after June 30.

“I want to contest for the president’s post, so I will have to go against him (Muhyiddin).

“Maybe Muhyiddin is not too confident about facing me, thus he has undertaken this drastic move to remove me as Kedah menteri besar.

“The Malay politics have shown that those who have been embarrassed will gain more support and sympathy than those who caused the embarrassment. I accept what has happened to me,” he said in a press conference in Alor Setar this morning.

Earlier he had announced his resignation as the state menteri besar after losing the majority support in the Kedah assembly.

He had continued to be the menteri besar with the support of Pakatan Harapan and state reps despite Bersatu pulling out of the pact that resulted in the fall of the federal government in end February.

Muhyiddin then formed the new federal government with the support of Umno, PAS and Sarawak ruling pact GPS – calling the new coalition Perikatan Nasional.

His move was objected by Mukhriz and his father Dr Mahathir Mohamad, causing a split in Bersatu.

Earlier this week, two PKR state reps and four from Bersatu, defected to join forces with Perikatan Nasional, resulting in Mukhriz losing support in the state assembly.

PAS’ Jeneri assemblyman, Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, will take over as menteri besar.

He will be sworn in before Kedah’s Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah later today. – May 17, 2020.