Kedah MB Azizan in hospital again
Azizan (centre) and Datuk Mahfuz Omar arrive at the PR convention in Alor Setar, January 14, 2012. — File picKUALA LUMPUR, Aug 31 — Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak has been hospitalised for exhaustion, PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali revealed today, casting doubt over his ability to lead Pakatan Rakyat’s defence of the state in the coming general election.
According to Mustafa, physicians at the Kedah Medical Centre in Alor Setar yesterday diagnosed Azizan with fatigue, believed to have been brought about by events during the recent Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
“I visited with [Azizan] yesterday and spoke with the doctors treating him,” Mustafa said in a statement today. “He has been told to rest, take his scheduled medication and to avoid unsuitable food.”
The PAS leader has been ordered to remain in hospital to facilitate his observation by the medical personnel, and state executive council meetings will be conducted there if necessary.
Last August, Azizan had been admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) after suffering from chest pains. The Kedah mentri besar, who has a history of high blood pressure, was reportedly found to have a clogged heart artery then.
Azizan’s ailing health had led to speculation that he would be forced to step down in order to safeguard his health, but he later denied such reports and insisted that he would continue with his duties.
A general election must be called by April 2013, when the current Barisan Nasional (BN) administration’s mandate will expire.
Kedah was one of the five states that BN lost during its worst ever electoral performance in Election 2008, along with Selangor, Penang, Perak, and Kelantan.
It has been the subject of intense focus by the ruling coalition that is bidding to regain the state at the next election. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had yesterday conducted a whirlwind tour there, where he urged Umno to close ranks ahead of the coming polls.
