Selangor PKR heading for a split?
By Free Malaysia Today
KUALA LUMPUR: The separation of political and administrative powers in the Selangor leadership of PKR is seen by political observers as exposing the party in the state to the risk of a split.
They fear that this could be the ultimate result unless PKR vice-president Azmin Ali, who has taken over the post of Selangor PKR chief from Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, can consolidate the party in the state.
PKR, on June 27, appointed Azmin as its Selangor chief after it was reported that a group of 15 PKR MPs close to Azmin, the Gombak MP, were said to have teamed up to oust Khalid as the Selangor menteri besar.
Azmin will now handle the political matters in the state while Khalid, the Ijok state assemblyman, will remain as the menteri besar and hold executive powers.
Political observer Asri Salleh said the separation of powers between the Selangor PKR chairman and the menteri besar might cause the alleged split in PKR to widen.
The party members and supporters in the state could be divided into two groups, one supporting the menteri besar and the other, the state PKR chief, he said.
“If there really is a split in PKR, it will have adverse consequences for Pakatan Rakyat in Selangor (which also comprises DAP and PAS) where there could be party hopping by MPs and state assemblymen due to a crisis of confidence,” he said.
Damage control
Asri, who is a political science lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) campus in Dungun, Terengganu, also said that on another perspective, the appointment of Azmin as the Selangor PKR chief could be seen as a move for damage control in Selangor PKR.
“Khalid’s administration is seen as having caused disunity among MPs and state assemblymen, so much so that some party members have switched parties. The more Khalid remains as the state party chief, the more disunity could grow,” he said.
Asri also did not rule out the possibility that Azmin’s appointment could be seen as an attempt to remove Khalid as the menteri besar, adding that the alleged move to topple Khalid had started a long time ago but that it had now come into the open.
Khalid, who is also the Bandar Tun Razak MP, had dismissed speculation that he had given up his post of Selangor PKR chief due to pressure.
He had said that he had limited time to attend to political matters because administrative matters took up much of his time.
Another political observer, Associate Professor Shaharuddin Badaruddin of UiTM in Shah Alam, said the separation of powers was at risk of fuelling drastic differences of opinion between Azmin and Khalid.
“If such a situation (separation of powers) can help establish stability, then it is a good move,” he said.
“As I see it, it is a normal appointment (of Azmin as Selangor PKR chief). Perhaps, it is in preparation for the next general election. Perhaps, it is to consolidate the party. Politically, I see it more as a decision to resolve problems faced by Khalid,” he said.
