Despite MB post fiasco, analysts see PKR keeping Kajang
By Boo Su-Lyn, The Malay Mail
Ongoing PKR intrigue in Selangor may invite public anger but political analysts believe voters’ loyalty to the DAP and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will see PKR claim victory in the coming Kajang by-election.
Professor Jayum Jawan, a political analyst from Universiti Putra Malaysia, said that voters in the state constituency with a large Chinese electorate may even take the opportunity to express their dissatisfaction with the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government.
“They might use this to send a further message, and to give a further mandate to Pakatan Rakyat,” Jayum told The Malay Mail Online today.
“The Chinese in Kajang will stay with Pakatan because they are also DAP supporters.
“There are many issues lately that have not endeared Barisan Nasional to Chinese people,” he added, citing issues such as rising cost of living and the “Allah” row.
PKR’s former Kajang assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh resigned from his post unexpectedly yesterday, fuelling speculation that his departure was to pave the way for Opposition Leader and PKR de facto chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to replace Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as the Selangor mentri besar.
Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, political analyst from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, similarly said that the majority of Chinese voters in Kajang would back PKR in order to be consistent in allowing PR to govern them.
“If Anwar is coming there, I don’t think Kajang people would protest. Besides, Umno Selangor is too weak to respond. Still trying to make things work,” said Shamsul Amri, who rated BN’s chances as “remote”.
Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng said that the PKR debacle would likely not push voters into supporting BN, but that they may abstain from voting instead to register their protest.
“In the larger picture, people will look beyond internal squabbles… But that doesn’t mean the decision taken by PKR is the right one. That should be the last thing – dragging people into internal party squabbles. It’s bad for the people,” Khoo told The Malay Mail Online.
Wan Saiful Wan Jan, chief executive of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), was more critical of PKR’s move to involve the state administration in its internal politics, calling it “really irresponsible”.
“My hope is that voters in Kajang will realise that they need to teach PKR a lesson.
“If they have any doubts, they should be assured still that Pakatan will still rule the state. This is a chance to teach PKR a lesson so they don’t take voters for granted,” he added.
PKR’s former Kajang assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh resigned from his post unexpectedly yesterday, fuelling speculation that his departure was to pave the way for Opposition Leader and PKR de facto chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to replace Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as the Selangor mentri besar.
Anwar confirmed today that he will stand in the Kajang by-election, but refused to say if it was to allow him to replace Khalid or that the latter will be removed from the mentri besar post.
Lee’s resignation came amid intense rivalry between Khalid and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali that worsened after the latter was booted on January 8 from the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) board of directors.
Lee won the Kajang state seat in Election 2013 with a 6,824-vote majority in the constituency where the Chinese comprise 41 per cent of the electorate, while the Malays make up 48 per cent and the Indians, 10 per cent.
PR controls two-thirds of the 56-seat Selangor state legislative assembly. PKR has 14 seats, while allies DAP and PAS hold 15 seats each.
When asked if there is a risk that the Selangor Sultan may reject Anwar or any other PKR candidate for the mentri besar post, the political analysts said that it was unlikely as the ruler would not want to disregard the voice of the majority.
“Normally, the Sultan should accept because that’s the voice of the people,” said Jayum.
“This is not about Anwar, Khalid or Azmin. This is about the voices of the people. I think the sultan will exercise that wisdom,” he added.
