Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, who is facing a revolt, is set to attend the Umno Supreme Council meeting tomorrow, a source said.
The source, close to Mukhriz, confirmed that the embattled state leader would be present at the meeting held at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur, where his fate would be decided.
"He will attend since he is still legally the MB of Kedah until today," the source told The Malaysian Insider.
Mukhriz, a first term menteri besar, was also a Supreme Council member although without any power to vote.
The source added that Mukhriz was expected to ask the leadership regarding the political crisis currently at play in Kedah and hoped to be able to keep his post until the end of the term.
"He wants clarification from the leadership about the crisis. Until today, he is sticking to his decision to continue to run the state administration.
"About the offer made in Langkawi, he has already rejected it," the source said, referring to the deputy minister position offered to Mukhriz by Najib if he agreed to surrender his menteri besar job.
But Mukhriz was expected to face internal obstacles in the meeting, to be attended by three other Supreme Council members from Kedah, who were part of the faction that wanted him out.
The source said the trio – Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, Datuk Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim and Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid – would play an important role in influencing the outcome of the meeting.
"The trio were present at the press conference last week announcing Kedah Umno's stance on Mukhriz. They are also the masterminds behind the move.
"Mukhriz realises the risk he will face at the meeting but he is prepared to face any eventuality," the source said.
The trio, who also won in the party election, had the power to vote against Mukhriz.
"They have voting power. If a vote is called, Mukhriz faces a high possibility of losing at the meeting tomorrow," he said.
Mukhriz is facing a revolt from Kedah Umno, after a group led by his deputy Datuk Ahmad Bashah Hanipah, declared they had lost confidence in the menteri besar and wanted him to give up the position.
Following that, Najib, who is party president, met the Kedah Umno leaders at PWTC and later Mukhriz during his visit to Langkawi over the weekend.
The political crisis has dragged on for over a week but until now Najib has yet to announce who will take over from Mukhriz, although it is believed that he had met with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah, who is also Kedah Sultan, to discuss Mukhriz's replacement. – January 28, 2016.
-The Malaysian Insider-
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