Amanah vice-president Mahfuz Omar said Takiyuddin’s appointment was unnecessary since both the federal and Kedah state governments were under Perikatan Nasional.

“If there’s a coordinating minister between opposition-led state governments, like Penang, Negeri Sembilan or Selangor, it may be reasonable,” he told FMT.

He did not dismiss the possibility that Takiyuddin’s appointment was because Putrajaya did not have confidence in the leadership of Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.

“If it’s for development projects, then it should be the responsibility of the state government to request for anything from the minister concerned, without needing a coordinating minister.

“Maybe the Kedah menteri besar has certain weaknesses that made it difficult for him to negotiate with other federal ministers,” he said.

Mahfuz also wanted Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to explain the need for a coordinating minister, especially since the state was not governed by the opposition.

Takiyuddin’s political secretary, Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, in clarifying a discussion between the PAS secretary-general and Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz over a water treatment plant, has said his boss was acting in his capacity as the coordinating minister between Putrajaya and Kedah.

Wan Rohimi said Takiyuddin had been appointed to the position by the prime minister on Sept 1, adding that the WhatsApp chat between the two ministers was being spread to “tarnish the good name” of the relevant parties.