In refusal to surrender MB post, Khalid no different from Anwar, ex-NST boss says
(Malay Mail Online) – By clinging on to the Selangor mentri besar post, PKR’s Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim is merely imitating his party’s de facto chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who had once refused to step down as deputy prime minister, former New Straits Times (NST) editor Abdul Kadir Jasin said.
In a blog post last night, the veteran journalist reminded that in 1998, Anwar had similarly declined to relinquish his posts as Malaysia’s number two and the finance minister, despite allegations of corruption and sexual misconduct.
“What Anwar does, Abdul Khalid imitates. If we still remember, in 1998, Anwar also refused to resign and back down.
“So we shouldn’t be surprised if Abdul Khalid also practises the same strategy, that is to wait to be sacked and not resign,” Abdul Kadir wrote, adding a Malay idiom that carries the meaning of “like father like son”.
The embattled Khalid has been holding on to his position as quitting would indirectly mean his admission of guilt to the alleged wrongdoings trotted out by his own party, Abdul Kadir said.
“But if he defends his post and is sacked, he will be considered a hero by some and be respected while others would consider him a victim of a conspiracy and give their sympathies,” he added.
The veteran newsman said PKR’s dossier containing accusations of Khalid’s alleged wrongdoings showed that leaders of the federal opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) were not as “clean” as portrayed when they hurl allegations against political foes Barisan Nasional (BN).
Claiming the current impasse over Khalid’s position has turned into a confusing and comedic situation, Abdul Kadir said it gave the impression that PR was seeking to grab even more power after just having a small taste of it.
While saying that Anwar has acknowledged the possibility of a re-election in Selangor as a last resort to solve the apparent deadlock, Abdul Kadir also cautioned against snap polls, which he said was a “dangerous” solution for PR now.
PKR’s allies and voters may be fed up with Anwar’s antics following the controversial Kajang by-election, Abdul Kadir suggested as he reminded readers of how PR had previously lost a state due to infighting.
“We have seen how a struggle within PKR caused Perak’s PR-led government to fall in 2009 and allowed BN to take over power,” he said.
But Abdul Kadir pointed out that the current Selangor BN leaders may not be able to use the crisis to their advantage without a major overhaul.
“It’s just that this is impossible in Selangor because BN is too far left behind to take advantage. It is the smallest party in the Selangor legislative assembly,” he said.
BN’s lynchpin Umno, which won 12 state seats in Selangor, has expressed intentions to milk the ongoing leadership crisis to its benefit, and is eyeing the possibility of wresting Selangor back from PR should snap polls be called.
PR’s three party coalition controls the majority of the legislative assembly by holding the remaining 44 seats ― 15 each for DAP and PAS, and 14 for PKR.
The PR leadership council is set to decide on Sunday on the matter of replacing Khalid after PAS and the DAP meet separately to discuss if they will accept PKR’s nomination of party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for the job.
