Khalid finds he is all alone up there
Zubaidah Abu Bakar, The Rakyat Post
So, PAS has re-affirmed its commitment to remain loyal to Pakatan Rakyat. What a relief to Pakatan supporters who want to see the coalition rise above the Selangor debacle.
The Selangor Menteri Besar crisis, although it has strained relations among the coalition partners, is by far still not big enough an issue to destroy the political co-operation between PAS, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and DAP.
PAS has officially withdrawn its support for Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, a decision that came after the party’s central committee discussed the crisis plaguing Selangor.
Obviously, political realities had set in and were given priority.
PAS needs to continue the political co-operation it entered into soon after the 2008 general election to remain a national party.
It placed less concern on the serious allegations hurled against the party and its leaders by PKR and DAP leaders and supporters in the media and cyberspace for not acting in solidarity.
The attacks were scathing enough that even those in PAS would not be surprised had the Islamist party decided to part ways.
Still, PAS’ decision to also nominate PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, along with PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, to replace Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has caused ripples in PKR.
By also nominating the PKR No. 2, PAS is stating that it is not in favour of Wan Azizah as Khalid’s replacement despite 30 Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers, including two from PAS, already giving their support to the PKR chief.
The Pakatan Rakyat presidential council’s decision to nominate only Dr Wan Azizah, after Azmin wished to stand by his party’s decision to only nominate the PKR president’s name, just hours after PAS’ central committee had decided to nominate him as an alternative candidate, has also not gone down well with PAS supporters.
PAS insiders said party members would be happy if Pakatan Rakyat would also inform the Sultan of PAS’ earlier decision on Azmin and the reason why the coalition was submitting only one name.
As the MB saga in Selangor is not about to be resolved so soon, it also means the three Pakatan partners will be facing some tense moments in the days to come, depending on how Khalid makes his move.
The past weeks had been hard on the parties and the leaders will have to work hard to overcome the political and administration fallout in Selangor.
Khalid had said he accepted PAS’ decision not to back him and to allow the party’s four state executive councilors to continue in their position until further developments.
He would also be seeking an audience with the Sultan of Selangor to advise the Ruler on the next course of action, which could only take place after the Sultan returns from his overseas trip on Aug 24, unless an earlier meeting is made possible in view of the tense political situation.
In a short statement issued after PAS decided to withdraw its support to him, Khalid said: “Until the Sultan makes his final decision, I will continue to administer Selangor with the four PAS exco members to ensure the people are not affected by this crisis.”
In the meantime, he is said to be contemplating setting up a new party. Wonder who else, besides his aides and former aides, would be jumping onto Khalid’s new ship?
But, with or without a party, Khalid’s days as Menteri Besar are seriously counting down. The turns in events have made it untenable for him to remain in his position for long.
There is only one way to resolve this deadlock fast. Khalid has to step down and not allow the crisis to turn more complicated than it has today.
This saves all parties and the people of Selangor from going to the polls again.
The embattled Menteri Besar still has the authority to request for a dissolution of the 56-member Selangor Legislative Assembly.
Khalid, through his own action of terminating all of his exco members, except four from PAS, has in fact speeded up his departure time.
He had made new enemies from among the ordinary people of Selangor, who were happy with his style of administration.
The embattled Menteri Besar has lost the sympathy he had initially won from members of the public as his move, although necessary to him to ensure it is business as usual for the state government, was seen as a retaliation for his sacking from PKR.
Now, he faces the reality that he is all alone up there.
