Just a day after he was sworn in as the new Kedah menteri besar, Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah played host to Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his own state.
It could be a mere coincidence but the prime minister’s day-long working visit to the state was not without political significance.
It signalled Putrajaya’s ringing endorsement of the new Kedah leadership and paved the way for stronger support for the people and the state government of Kedah by the Federal Government.
Kedah is a front-line state for Barisan Nasional in its quest to strengthen its foothold in the core Malay heartland in the next general election (GE).
Having regained control of Kedah from the Pas-led government in the last GE, BN cannot afford to lose the northern state in the subsequent polls.
The mandate now falls on the 66-year-old Bashah, who emerged as MB after two weeks of intense political drama that saw the eventual resignation of Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.
Mukhriz, in sunglasses and dressed in casual wear, took a Firefly flight back to Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday afternoon after throwing in the towel. At a press conference to announce his resignation a few hours earlier, he sounded defiant and blamed party colleagues and leaders for his ouster.
Never mind the common perception that he was a “part-time MB”, working in Alor Star and living in Kuala Lumpur. Never mind the fact of his insubordination, that he was out trying to undermine the No. 1 man in the government and the party.
Bashah, a veteran politician and a five-term assemblyman, now has to put the house in order, reunite Kedah Umno, win back the hearts and minds of the people and address issues that affect ordinary people.
“It’s a do-or-die mission for him,” noted former Kedah Umno official Zahari Morad. He said Bashah was instrumental in ensuring that BN regained power in Kedah in the last GE.
On Friday, Bashah welcomed Najib on his arrival at 9.30am in Lunas before both visited a Tamil school nearby. He then saw the prime minister off at around 6.30pm in Sungai Petani.
Witnesses said they were very comfortable with each other. “They were good. No awkward moments,” said one of Najib’s aides.
In his speech in Lunas, Najib said he had faith in Bashah to carry out his duties effectively to improve the people’s welfare.
“I trust that Bashah can take Kedah forward to become a more prosperous state,” he said. In his speech earlier, Bashah promised to do his level best to improve the state.
At another event later attended by 3,000 people, Najib approved a RM15 million allocation to develop a complex for hawkers and small traders in Sungai Petani. In jest, he said it was Bashah’s first request as an MB.
Bashah’s immediate task is to
prepare a new state executive council line-up. He is expected to do this well after the Chinese New Year break.
But he will chair his first exco meeting this Wednesday, possibly the last meeting for some exco members.
A veteran newsman, Jalil believes that a good journalist should be curious and sceptical at the same time