KUALA LUMPUR — In what can be called as his second ouster from the Kedah state government, former Kedah chief minister Mukhriz Mahathir has put the blame on former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak.

Mr Mukhriz claimed that although the directive for him to be toppled came from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Muhyiddin Yassin through home minister Hamzah Zainuddin, the real perpetrator was Mr Najib.

"The protagonist is still the same as before and it is Najib.

"The purpose is simple and it is for him to be freed from all the breach of trust allegations levelled against him concerning 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad), SRC International and other mega-scandals that have tainted Malaysia's image in the eyes of the world," he told a press conference in Alor Setar on Sunday (May 17) which was streamed live online.

In a quick response to the claims, Mr Najib wrote on his Facebook that Mr Mukhriz was lying and questioned the need for the latter to make such a statement.

"Why am I being blamed when this young man lost his job?

"Since the movement control order (MCO) started, I just #stayathome, be on Facebook, play with my cat and eat Super Ring.

"Does this gentleman have evidence that I was involved? Please show it.

"Even in this month of Ramadhan he dares to tell a lie like this," Mr Najib wrote.

The Najib-led Barisan Nasional (BN) was defeated in the 14th General Election by Pakatan Harapan (PH). The Pekan Member of Parliament has been labelled as a global kleptocrat by local and international communities due to his corruption charges.

Aside from Mr Najib, his wife Rosmah Mansor and her son Riza Aziz also faced charges in court but recently, Mr Riza was accorded a discharge not amounting to acquittal for his money laundering charges.

With this new development, Mr Mukhriz said he wouldn't be surprised if more court cases involving Umno leaders and their family be dismissed under the new Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.

"Just look at Riza Aziz's case. It may be a sign that others from Umno like Najib, his wife Rosmah Mansor and (Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad) Zahid Hamidi will face the same fate, let's wait and see," he said.

Earlier on Sunday, Mr Mukhriz announced his resignation as Kedah’s chief minister after 23 out of 36 assemblymen declared they had lost confidence in him, making way for PAS' Jeneri assemblyman Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor to take up the state's top job.

Of the 23, six were Mr Mukhriz's former colleagues from PH — two assemblymen from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and four from Bersatu — who have now pledged support for the PN federal administration.

To the six, Mr Mukhriz offered a brief message: "No forgiveness for you."

The Jitra assemblyman said he and the 12 assemblymen from PH would continue to serve the state in the opposition bloc until the 15th General Election.

Mr Mukhriz believed there were only two reasons why he was ousted — his decision to challenge Mr Muhyiddin as Bersatu president and his father, Dr Mahathir Mohamad's proposed motion of no-confidence against the prime minister in the Dewan Rakyat.

He said there were no other reasons why the six assemblymen would lose confidence in him except that they received orders from the higher-ups to do so.

"There were no serious problems in Kedah during PH's tenure. There were no scandals or crisis linked to me or any of my state executive council members.

"There were only personal political interests outside of Kedah which have now victimised the people here.

"It is learnt that a change of government has to be done by May 18, tomorrow although the date has nothing to do with Kedah," he said.

Mr Mukhriz was referring to the one-day parliamentary sitting which is now limited to only the Royal Address.

Due to this, Dr Mahathir's motion of no confidence against Mr Muhyiddin will not be debated on May 18 and may only see the light of day in the next Dewan Rakyat session in July.

"Perhaps they wanted to topple the Kedah MB as a birthday gift to the premier?" Mr Mukhriz said, citing Mr Muhyiddin's 73rd birthday on May 16.

Earlier, Sultan of Kedah Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah consented to Mr Mukhriz's resignation and the appointment of Mr Sanusi as the new chief minister. NEW STRAITS TIMES