Selangor, the acid test for Pakatan
With the crisis in Selangor coming to a head, can the Pakatan leadership survive?
Joe Chandler, Free Malaysia Today
It’s refreshing to see a real political problem hit the opposition coalition.
If nothing else, it provides us the opportunity to observe how the coalition will address it and show the world that common sense and political reality can co-exist in promoting the good values this nation badly needs.
It is also interesting to analyse this problem from different perspectives as it allows us to see if the opposition has what it takes to drive reform in the direction we all want.
It is my hope that the issue is addressed in a sane manner and as a united front, more so because the people are already disillusioned with the manner in which PKR polls are administered. This alone has created a permanent dent in the opposition’s shiny armour.
I can only speculate as to why there is a need to remove Khalid Ibrahim as the Menteri Besar (MB). Perhaps it is more to do with political reality in terms of preparing for future general elections and the ability to have sufficient funding to mount an effective campaign.
I am not privy to all the information but looking at the drastic measures taken and the timing of these measures, it is most likely related to back door negotiations with the water concession holders.
It is admittedly a tricky deal that may just provide the opposition particularly PKR, with much needed resources to continue its struggle. Sadly the issue of Khalid being right or wrong may not matter as the long-term political struggle of the opposition may take precedence.
In all honesty, I am unable to find fault with Khalid’s administration except his policy of disengagement with political party members and the slow disbursement of state funds for the development of Selangor.
Khalid is also known to be clean when it comes to using state money. Therefore in all fairness, his removal may be due to his inability to see the political necessity of PKR’s long-term struggle.
Is this right or wrong, only you can decide by either accepting the bigger picture or placing ethical values on ‘ubah’ (change) at whatever cost.
I am particularly interested to see Anwar Ibrahim’s reactions to Tok Guru Nik Aziz and PAS president Hadi Awang’s backing of Khalid.
Many have debated the reasons why both PAS leaders decided to throw their weight behind the MB.
It is either because Khalid is doing a good job and is perceived as clean and therefore should continue, or that PAS being a fundamentalist party cannot accept the choice of a woman MB due to their ‘understanding’ that in Islam, only men can lead (at the very least, this is a theological argument instead of saying women cannot lead because of menses – and just to set the record straight, I disagree on both counts).
There are two other possibilities.
Could the PAS leadership have been irked by Anwar’s unilateral decision to field Dr. Wan Azizah as the MB instead of himself as was agreed by all coalition members?
Could it be that PAS fears its influence over the Malay community will be eroded once PKR uses its additional funds (from the secret water deal) to market and promote their brand of ideology to the Malays?
PAS is already facing difficulties containing the split within its own party between the ulamas and the moderates; they cannot afford to lose their grip on the Malay heartland as well to a moderate and secular coalition member.
By backing Khalid, PAS has turned the tables on PKR and is now in a stronger position. However this move has led to speculations that PAS is willing to work with UMNO.
