Selangor MB crisis: Tensions mount between PAS and PKR

Rahmah Ghazali, The Star

The crisis over the Selangor Mentri Besar post has another twist now that both PAS and PKR are at odds as to over whether Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim should remain in his position.

In a statement, PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail insisted that the decision to replace Khalid with PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah, who is also a Kajang assemblyman, was unanimously accepted by all component parties.

He said this following a statement by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who on Friday had backed Khalid to stay in power based on his track record in administrating the state.

Saifuddin said the decision was collectively made in presence of six PAS top leaders , including deputy president Mohamad Sabu and  vice-presidents Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and Datuk Husam Musa, secretary-general Datuk Mustapha Ali, Youth chief Suhaizan Kayat and central committee member Dr Hatta Ramli.

“This decision making process has been in place since Pakatan Rakyat was founded,” he said, adding that both PAS and DAP had decided to respect the principles in choosing the new mentri besar held by PKR.

“Therefore, PKR stands by the official decision made by the presidential council in this matter, just like how we made decisions to appoint new mentri besar at the states that we governed, such as Penang, Kelantan and Kedah before this,” he said.

Saifuddin also appeared to shoot back at PAS, saying that PKR had chosen to respect the Islamist party’s decision to determine the appointment of Kedah Mentri Besar before the 13th General Election.

“We accepted the fact that PAS held the principles of appointing a new MB in Kedah although there were requests by the top leadership asking us to state our stand,” he said.

Hadi reportedly said that his decision to support Khalid as MB until he completes his term was made after considering the views of PAS members.

He said a majority of the PAS grassroots agreed that Khalid should remain as MB based on his track record and clean background.

PAS’ Dewan Ulama has also backed Khalid, saying that Hadi’s views speak on behalf of the whole party.

It’s acting Dewan Ulama chief, Datuk Ahmad Yakob said replacing Khalid as the MB was never agreed on when the notion first surfaced ahead of the Kajang by-election.

“During the Kajang by-election, we have agreed on three things; that the decision to name the candidate was given to PKR, PAS would give its assistance and the issue of replacing the MB did not arise,” he said in a statement on Saturday.

He said Hadi’s statement was based on these principles, stressing that there was no strong reason to call for Khalid’s removal.

“He should be allowed to stay until the end of his term, as we have observed him to be loyal, free from corruption and he managed to double the support from the voters in the last general election,” he said.

“We at the Dewan Ulama is urging all PAS members to reflect their decision based on the president’s statement as he has deciding power,” said Ahmad.

The political drama in Selangor has been dragging on for months, ever since the Kajang move’ was engineered, as part of a strategy to Khalid from the MB post.

Dr Wan Azizah won the Kajang by-election and has since been tipped to be next MB.

Khalid has been under intense pressure to give up his post by his party colleagues following a barrage of criticism thrown at him over his handling of various issues in the state.