Tale of the two mengadap
Salleh Said Keruak
Yesterday, Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim had an audience (mengadap) with His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor to explain what was happening in Selangor. HRH appeared quite satisfied with the briefing and consented to Khalid staying on as Menteri Besar until further developments.
Further developments here would, of course, mean unless and until a vote of no confidence against Khalid is passed in the Selangor state assembly or those opposed to Khalid can offer proof that he has lost the confidence of the majority of the House.
The fact that PAS has reiterated many times (today as well) that its 15 state representatives or ADUNs stand solidly behind Khalid, and the Deputy Prime Minister said the same regarding the 12 Umno ADUNs, this would give Khalid 28 votes against PKR’s and DAP’s combined 27 (the Speaker cannot vote unless it is a casting vote in the event of a draw).
Hence the decision by HRH would be considered constitutionally legal, as also many legal eagles have opined.
Yesterday, also, Anwar Ibrahim rushed up to Kuala Terengganu for an audience with PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang. According to press reports Hadi had avoided meeting Anwar the last month or so but since Anwar had taken the trouble to travel all the way to Terengganu it is only good manners for Hadi to meet him.
After that one hour meeting Anwar told the media people waiting outside the hotel in Kuala Ibai that it was a good meeting while Hadi rushed off without saying a word to them. This can be translated to mean that the meeting was not really a good meeting after all.
It seems Hadi was receptive to the proposal that Khalid be replaced but not to the proposal that Khalid be replaced with Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. So it was a more or less yes and no response.
If Anwar agrees to drop Dr Wan Azizah then it has to be either Azmin Ali or Dr Idris Ahmad as the proposed replacement. If both these names is not acceptable to Anwar, or more importantly, to HRH the Sultan, then it would have to be someone from PAS, most likely Iskandar Abdul Samad who it is said HRH is quite comfortable with.
This has put Anwar in a dilemma. PAS can consider a change but it has to be a change agreeable to PAS. Hence PAS will meet Anwar halfway but Anwar also has to meet PAS halfway. Anwar cannot have it his way all the way.
