Is PAS the king maker?
Lim Mun Fah, Sin Chew Daily
Many people have underestimated the complexity of the political situation in Selangor, and did not expect incumbent Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, who seemed desperate, would lead all to such a stalemate.
However, after two PAS state assembly members expressed their support to PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and made the number to become 30 together with PKR and DAP state assembly members, Khalid’s remarks claiming that he was supported by the majority of state assembly members have lost credibility.
Moreover, PAS’ central committee had also decided to support the removal of Khalid, putting Khalid in a hopeless situation.
Khalid is once again forced into a corner. He might still wish to defend his post but the momentum has become too week. Some people who had sympathy for him have now been disgusted by his behaviours that have lost the bottom line.
Khalid had hinted that he could dissolve the state assembly.
He had also filed a complaint with the Registrar of Societies (ROS). The actions he took showed that even if he steps down, he will pull the PKR with him to wallow in the mud. It could even lead to a destruction, even if it might cause the PKR to have its registration revoked.
The Sultan’s attitude has now become a key deciding the development of the situation So far, the Sultan’s seems still backing Khalid. It is also the reason why Khalid has kept mentioning the Sultan.
Khalid said that the Sultan ordered him not to make any decisions or announcement at the moment until the Sultan returns on August 27. It is in fact a political reality in Malaysia. If the Sultan does not consent the Menteri Besar candidate named by the PKR, there would be new changes to the crisis and it might take some time to resolve.
In fact, Khalid is able to sustain until today due to his biggest patron, PAS. PAS backed him and it seems to be the king-maker of the crisis. However, it might fail in making Khalid the “king” and instead bring harm to itself.
PAS’ attitude before this was ambiguous. It indicated its members to support Khalid even thought it was part of Pakatan Rakyat. It claimed that it would not leave Pakatan Rakyat, while having some kind of connection with Umno. As a result, a great storm was set off and it led the partnership of the three Pakatan Rakyat component parties into a crisis, while costing PAS its credit and political moral. It had even planted the seed of split in the party. It is tantamount to committing political suicide.
