All eyes on Anwar to prevent fallout from Khalid-Azmin Selangor spat
By Md Izwan, The Malaysian Insider
The spat between Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and state PKR chief Azmin Ali is causing a growing split in the party with de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic) having to make a decision soon to avoid any fallout.
Sources say Anwar is walking a fine line in the widening dispute between the PKR deputy president, who is his chief lieutenant, and the popular Khalid in a rivalry that began when the latter became menteri besar in 2008.
The rivalry spiked when Khalid was sworn in for a second term last May and both clashed on a variety of issues, from Selangor’s 2014 development expenditure to salary increases for state legislators and executive councillors.
The latest row was over Azmin’s seat on the board of directors for state property developer Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) or Selangor State Development Corporation.
While Anwar has been patiently papering over cracks between both men, his views on these issues have conflicted with Khalid’s and the state government’s, leading to speculation of a strain in the ties between him and the menteri besar.
Sources told The Malaysian Insider that Anwar made it clear how fed up he was with Khalid during discussions at last week’s PKR supreme council meeting. Khalid does not hold any party posts but sits only in the political bureau.
They said Anwar decided not to defend Khalid, who he had favoured as menteri besar, during a heated debate at the meeting to sack Khalid from his state government’s post.
It is understood that Anwar told the meeting that he was not pleased with Khalid for making major decisions without referring to the party’s senior leadership, which sources said showed the widespread frustration with the state menteri besar was not just among Azmin’s faction.
“I am not in a position to defend the MB anymore. There is no discussion, no consideration, he thinks it is his state, he is in control.
“No one knows his stand, he does not refer to anyone, no one knows … So we have a problem,” a source quoted Anwar as saying in the meeting.
“There is no discussions on the water issue. I do not know (about it), I have to read the papers (to keep track of developments),” Anwar reportedly said when commenting on Selangor’s move to restructure the state water industry.
“The Allah issue also, I do not know anything about it until today. Nothing,” he was quoted as saying.
Attempts to reach Anwar to confirm his comments were unsuccessful.
The Malaysian Insider learnt that other PKR leaders at the meeting supported calls to remove Khalid as menteri besar with one saying someone else should take over if Khalid could no longer manage Selangor according to the party’s “reformist” principles.
Sources said Anwar suggested that a final decision on Khalid’s future must be discussed and decided with PKR’s Pakatan Rakyat (PR) allies, PAS and DAP.
“The decision involves a fellow party member. This is now an issue for Pakatan Rakyat.
“Now that we know the sentiments, it comes back to me. I have to talk to DAP and PAS,” Anwar was quoted as saying by the sources.
Both DAP and PAS hold 15 state seats each in the 56-seat state assembly while PKR only holds 14. The rest are held by Umno, which headed the Barisan Nasional (BN) government until the general election in 2008.
The sources also said Anwar had expressed concern that the discussions would become public.
