PAS ready to dump Khalid but wants alternative to Dr Wan Azizah, sources say

(Malay Mail Online) – PAS is set to withdraw support for Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim after his sacking by PKR, but the Islamist party could still complicate the Selangor mentri besar crisis by nominating an alternative to PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, according to internal sources.

Malay Mail Online understands that Khalid’s expulsions from PKR has forced PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to rethink his support for the embattled Selangor mentri besar as the latter no longer represented the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact.

Party insiders close to the president said that although Hadi’s plan to name a second candidate may upset allies in PKR, they believe the decision not to nominate any from PAS may placate partners in PR enough to allow for positive discussion on the matter.

“Hadi has agreed that Khalid is no longer a concern for PAS. He has also said that the [alternative candidate] for the post will not come from PAS.

“This is a positive move since the president is willing to reposition himself. That’s two stumbling blocks removed there,” a senior party leader told Malay Malay Online.

The person said PAS’ top three leaders will meet tonight to discuss the matter and is expected to convey the message to its PR allies when the pact meets on Thursday.

Another party leader confirmed that Hadi is planning to nominate a second PKR candidate to replace Khalid, but insisted the move was not done out of a purported PAS objection to Dr Wan Azizah.

The source said the decision to nominate an alternate was to pre-empt a scenario in which the Selangor Sultan may not consent to the PKR president’s nomination.

“There could be two scenarios: one is that the Sultan may not agree to just one candidate or two, that the Sultan may ask for another name.

“It is based on this second scenario that PAS is proposing a second candidate,” he said.

But the leader acknowledged that the move could reinforce perceptions that PAS was against naming a woman as mentri besar, although he denied that was the case.

“There is no such thing as PAS objecting to Wan Azizah,” he said.

The PAS leader added he was confident that his party’s decision to name a second candidate was still a positive outcome compared to the current stalemate that is threatening to break the pact.

The Selangor Sultan and palace officials met this morning to discuss Khalid’s position as state mentri besar following his sacking from PKR on Saturday.

PKR’s disciplinary committee decided to expel Khalid ostensibly for his open defiance of the party’s decision that he must step down to make way for PKR president Dr Wan Azizah.

Observers believe 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.

Khalid’s removal sees PKR’s share of the 56-seat Selangor state assembly dropping to 13 from 14 while allies DAP and PAS have 15 seats each. Umno, the opposition in the state, holds 12.

But PAS leaders who spoke to Malay Mail Online believe Hadi’s change of heart will help PR mend the cracks and avert a breakup, even if Khalid decides to defect to Umno.

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.