Selangor MB crisis reaches climax

Soong Phui Jee, Sin Chew Daily

The crisis of replacing Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim resulted from the internal struggle of PKR has brought chaos for more than six months since the Kajang by-election was staged in January this year. Today, the abdication move has entered a crucial phase and it seems hard for Khalid to defend his post.

The PKR needs to seek DAP’s and PAS’ views before replacing Khalid and the two parties have expressed their stands at a Pakatan Rakyat meeting. The parties agreed in principle to replace Khalid with PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as Selangor Menteri Besar and everything should be settled after Hari Raya celebrations.

Despite making a brilliant achievement in the 2013 general election, Khalid’s strength in the party has been much weaker than his ambitious rival, Selangor PKR chairman Azmin Ali. The conflict between the two has intensified until the party’s unity and prestige are harmed, causing PKR de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to stage the Kajang by-election to gradually carry out the plan of replacing the state’s Menteri Besar.

However, how to make Khalid step down is a big headache for Anwar. They have missed the opportunity to let him step down decently and even though he has now lost his influence, Khalid’s attitude is still tough. He insists to act in accordance with the Constitution and stay put until the end of his term.

Khalid insists not to go and Selangor State Assembly members are very likely to present a motion of no confidence. If the motion is passed, Khalid must go and the Selangor Sultan will have to appoint a new Menteri Besar. Another possible solution is, the Selangor State Assembly appoints a representative to audience with the Sultan, to express their stand of distrusting Khalid, and let the Sultan appoint the candidate recommended by Pakatan Rakyat to replace Khalid.

However, if Khalid chooses to act defiantly until the end and request the Sultan’s permission to dissolve the State Assembly, Selangor will have to hold a state by-election if the Sultan approves it. It is generally believed that Khalid would not take such a move to defend his post. It is because dissolving the State Assembly will not help in keeping his post and it is impossible for the PKR to field him as a candidate again. If the by-election result is unfavourable to Pakatan Rakyat, the reputation and image built by Khalid in the past will be destroyed.

Khalid’s leadership and personal qualities in Selangor have basically been praised and the Selangor people are worried that the existing people-friendly policies could be affected once he steps down. Meanwhile, although Wan Azizah has been carrying a friendly image, her administrative management and ability in quelling PKR infighting are still doubted, while she is also been accused of being a puppet of Anwar. She must made outstanding performance to prove her capability.

The crisis of replacing Selangor Menteri Besar has more or less exposed the signs of contradiction among the three component parties of Pakatan Rakyat. The DAP had always supported Khalid in the past and even the Azmin faction forced him to step down, the DAP still backed him. However, a series of major issues over the past half year, including the water crisis, the accused abuse of power of Jais, the seizure of Bible, the Kidex controversy and the hudud law, has caused DAP state assembly members to criticise Khalid, showing the existence of cracks in Pakatan Rakyat. In this case, if the Selangor State Assembly is dissolved for a by-election, the people’s confidence in Pakatan Rakyat will be tested.