Saturday February 25, 2012

Phahrolrazi vacates office ahead of swearing-in

ALOR SETAR: Senior Kedah exco member Datuk Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi has vacated his office at Wisma Darulaman ahead of the swearing-in of state executive councillors on Tuesday.

It is learnt that he vacated his office several days ago, marking an escalation of the rift between him and Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak, with some exco members from PAS said to be teaming up to oust Azizan.

It was reported that Phahrolrazi and Dr Ismail Salleh had met PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang to inform him of their intention not to stay on as state exco members when their term expires on March 12.

Two other exco members, Datuk Taulan Mat Rasul and Dr Hamdan Mohamed Khalib, are expected to follow suit.

Unoccupied: The general view of part of Phahrolrazi’s office from its glass door at the 5th floor of Block-E, Wisma Darulaman in Alor Setar.

The only woman PAS exco member, Datuk Siti Aishah Ghazali, said she would attend the oath-taking ceremony. The other two PAS executive councillors are Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah, known to be loyal to Azizan, and Abd Ghani Ahmad.

In another development, Kedah PKR chief Datuk Wan Salleh Wan Isa said he had advised the three PKR exco members - Lim Soo Nee, Datuk S. Manikumar and Tan Chow Kang @ Tan Joo Long - not to interfere in the matter.

“I have spoken to (PKR adviser) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He also advised the state PKR to stay away from the problem,” he said.

State DAP chairman Lee Guan Aik said the rebellion against Azizan was due to him mishandling several issues.

Among them, he said, were the demolition of the Madrashah Saliniah surau and the suspension of Kolej Universiti Insaniah students. There was also the question of his “failing health”.

Kedah MCA chairman Datuk Chong Itt Chew said the state exco members who were trying to overthrow Azizan were power crazy and not thinking about the welfare of the people.

“It is unfair to Azizan since the general election is not too far away.

“They want him to step down so one of them can take his place. They are only thinking about themselves and not about the people and the development of the state,” he said.

Kedah Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Paduka Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said the rebellion confirmed speculation that all was not well in the state government.

“The unhappiness among state exco members is now out in the open,” he said yesterday.

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