MUKHRIZ Mahathir today accused former prime minister Najib Razak as being the puppet master in stripping him of the Kedah menteri besar post.

Speaking to reporters after announcing his resignation this morning, Mukhriz said the instruction to overthrow the Pakatan Harapan-Bersatu state government came from Najib.

“The instruction to remove me came from Bersatu president (Muhyiddin Yassin), through Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainuddin.

“However, the real protagonist is the same person as before – Najib Razak.

“He has done this so he can escape his court trials on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and SRC International scandals,” Mukhriz said in Alor Setar.

He also said that Najib’s move is already seen in the government’s deal to drop money-laundering charges against stepson Riza Aziz in return for the money allegedly garnered through the 1MDB scandal.

In an immediate reaction, Najib asked why Mukhriz blames him for losing the state government.

He asked Mukhriz to show proof, if any.

“Since the start of the movement control order, I have been homebound, with my Facebook, playing with my cat and eating ‘super rings’.

“Does he have any evidence to show my involvement? Produce them.

“He is willing to lie during this Ramadan,” Najib said in a Facebook post today.

Mukhriz resigned as menteri besar this morning after losing majority support in the Kedah assembly.

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

He will be sworn in before Kedah’s Sultan Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah later today.

It is the second time Mukhriz has been forced to step down as menteri besar without completing his term after losing majority support.

In February 2016, he resigned under Barisan Nasional rule after criticising then prime minister Najib over the 1MDB scandal.

Mukhriz held the post since May 2013.

His second tenure, under Pakatan Harapan, lasted just two years.

Earlier this week, two PKR state assemblymen and four from Bersatu defected to Perikatan Nasional, resulting in Mukhriz and Pakatan Harapan losing the majority in the state assembly. – May 17, 2020.