This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on April 9, 2018 - April 15, 2018

A family of three has settled down for sreakfast at a table in Pasar Besar Alor Setar when a familiar smiling face approached their table to shake their hands and exchange pleasantries, placing a pamphlet on the table.

The family members stand up, a little embarrassed by the attention and shyly say hello to former menteri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir. He moves off to let the family carry on with their meal as other people wait for him to come over to their table.

The youngest son of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Mukhriz, 54, resigned as MB in February 2016 after speaking out against issues involving state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

Now with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), which was issued a provisional dissolution order last Thursday, Mukhriz still carries the charisma of an MB as he walked through the market, accompanied by Pakatan Harapan leaders, including Alor Setar MP Gooi Hsiao-Leung, Pokok Sena MP Datuk Mahfuz Omar, Kuala Kedah MP Dr Azman Ismail and Kota Darul Aman assemblyman Teoh Boon Kok.

The mishmash of red, blue and orange shirts — the colours of Pakatan Harapan — was an unlikely sight for market-goers, who paused to take pictures with the leaders, share jokes and voice complaints, adding to the usual cacophony of a marketplace.

Ushered by the market committee chairman to meet with traders at the market, Mukhriz was unfazed by the sudden stops as well as customers who wanted to have photos taken with him to post on their social media accounts.

To date, he has not said he would be menteri besar if the opposition parties win the majority in the state, nor that he would be contesting a parliamentary seat.

“We will announce it when the time is right. For now, I cannot say anything. I also cannot say who could be Barisan Nasional’s MB-designate,” he told a customer who asked if he would be MB.

Fishmonger Sham Sheikh Mohd was overheard asking Mukhriz to come to the market more often and listen to the problems they are facing, including lack of water, broken toilets and a drop in business.

“He is good but he should come here often. This is the first time we have seen him here. He never came even when he was the menteri besar but we voted for them (BN) last time. They should come often and see how we live with the daily rising cost of living.

“Life is hard. Business has dropped by 40% for most of us in the market. Customers don’t have much money to spend because things are expensive. It is not that we have increased prices but it has risen after the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax,” said Sham, 45, who has been trading in the market for 20 years.

Similarly, Afifah Yusuf, 32, who sells ulam and salted fish, said people in her village have had to resort to doing extra jobs to support themselves.

“Some catch their own fish in the rivers and sell vegetables from their garden to earn just a few more ringgit. There are lots of old people who have very little to eat, so we help out when we can but for how long? Even we don’t have enough,” she remarked.

As the group comes to her stall, a man not too far away shouts “Hidup Umno” (long-live Umno) and “GST bagus” (GST is good), making everyone turn and smile as they hand out pamphlets.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) Gooi said in the urban areas, the problems are mostly GST-related and can be resolved if the opposition coalition takes over the government.

“We are aware of the problems people are facing but being in the opposition, our hands are tied,” he said while waving at market-goers whom he recognised.

Traders and customers pull Mukhriz aside mostly to be photographed with him. Some complain to him about the lack of spending money and issues affecting their residential area and roads.

He is the first-term incumbent for the Ayer Hitam state seat, polling 14,083 votes to beat PAS’ Abdul Ghani Ahmad by a 2,446-vote majority in 2013. He was also Jerlun MP for one term from 2008 and held the post of deputy minister of international trade and industry.

“There is an overall feeling of dissatisfaction among the voting populace with regards to GST and overpriced goods. Judging by the reactions I get wherever I go in Kedah, people are really tired of the excuses that Barisan Nasional and Umno are giving them,” Mukhriz said in an interview later.

When asked if Malays would feel that their special interests may be lost if Umno is edged out in Kedah, Mukhriz said he believes Umno can be replaced and that Malay Muslim sentiments will be addressed.

“I think that the then Pakatan Rakyat could not have gone further with just PKR and Parti Amanah Negara in the coming election. They would not have been able to muster the type of Malay votes they did in 2013. We can fill that vacuum.”

He added that according to information he has received, support for PAS is waning as the majority of the members are disappointed with the top leadership and its alleged relationship with Umno, a party it once considered a sworn enemy.

“Because of a combination of factors, we believe we will fare well throughout the state. There are marginal seats, particularly now with three or four-cornered fights, but I feel confident. For instance, the Bukit Kayu Hitam state seat was won by more than 7,800 votes in 2013 but we have lobbied hard to contest that seat. That shows how confident we are,” he said.

Mukhriz alluded to “having friends” in Umno who had cited major swings in support but did not discount BN’s strategy of “throwing money” to win votes.

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