Anwar to meet Hadi next week as Selangor MB crisis reaches ‘breaking point’
(Malay Mail Online) – With no immediate solution in sight, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to meet with PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang next week in a last-ditch attempt to resolve the Selangor mentri besar crisis and worsening ties between Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties.
Malay Mail Online understands that the meeting, tentatively set for next Thursday is to allow the PAS president to fully explain his party leadership’s decision to support Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and to iron out a common resolution between PAS and PR on the matter.
Senior DAP and PKR officials said that both parties have already decided that Khalid cannot remain as MB or within any PR coalition party, and this will be impressed upon Hadi.
“Tentatively set for Thursday. Anwar hopes to iron things out and meet Hadi in order for Pakatan to be able to come to terms, to reach an agreement on the matter as it has gone on for too long,” a DAP leader told Malay Mail Online.
“If Khalid joins PAS, Pakatan breaks. That is clear,” he added.
A Selangor PKR leader told Malay Mail Online that making sure PR parties were on the “same wavelength” is top priority for PKR de facto leader Anwar, and that differing statements from PR leaders on the MB crisis has caused a lot of “problems.”
“It’s best to allow them to meet as soon as possible and to figure out a way to resolve this without casting too much unnecessary attention.
“We are trying to set an earlier date for the meet but so far it is Thursday,” he said, adding that there were growing concerns among leaders that PR’s five-year old coalition was reaching its “breaking point” with the inability to unite on removing Khalid and replacing him with PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
“It’s a crucial time. We are also waiting to see what happens when the Selangor Sultan and state royal advisors meet,” the PKR leader added.
The Selangor Sultan and palace officials will be meeting today to discuss MB Khalid’s position as state mentri besar following his sacking from PKR on Saturday.
PKR’s disciplinary committee decided to expel Khalid mainly for his open defiance of the party’s decision that he must step down to make way for PKR president Dr Wan Azizah.
Khalid’s sacking leaves the coalition in a precarious state and will add to worries that snap polls may have to be called to ward off a stalemate.
PKR’s share of the 56 seat Selangor state assembly drops to 13 from 14. Its allies DAP and PAS have 15 seats each while Umno, the opposition in the state, has 12.
It is still not known if Khalid will join any other party or will simply become the lone independent assemblyman.
Khalid has 14 days to attempt an appeal. PKR’s top council will then decide if there are enough grounds for an appeal and form a special committee accordingly.
