Selangor MB crisis was self-inflicted, says PAS Youth chief in swipe at PKR
(Malay Mail Online) – Selangor residents are “fed up” with the protracted mentri besar crisis that stemmed from “one’s own making, PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan said in veiled reference to PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Omitting reference to any of Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) three parties, Nasrudin said the pact must now face the “burden of the crisis” when it next faces an electorate irked by the political intrigue.
“The interest of the people is being gambled for one’s elusive political ambition,” said Nasrudin on his Facebook page yesterday.
“What is more unfortunate is that there are parties who are willing to cause snap elections as long as personal ambitions are achieved,” said the Temerloh MP.
In the past days, Nasrudin has directed criticism at Anwar and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, who is bidding to become Selangor mentri besar.
He said that PKR and DAP’s decision to nominate Dr Wan Azizah as a sole candidate to replace Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as MB reeked of nepotism.
Comparing the move to the appointment of former Kelantan mentri besar Datuk Seri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat’s son-in-law as a chief executive director of a state-owned company, he queried why such a move was controversial then but not now.
In 2009, Nik Aziz’s son-in-law Abdul Ariffahmi Ab Rahman, an engineer, was hired as the CEO of Kelantan Menteri Besar Incorporated (PMBK) but resigned shortly after the Islamist party was accused of “nepotism” as the appointment was made while the former was serving as mentri besar.
“After five years, is nepotism no longer an issue? Or does nepotism only apply to atau nepotisme Ariffahmi… but not the rest?” Nasrudin had posted on Facebook on Friday.
He also said it is “normal” for Islamic religious scholars to argue over a woman’s ability to function as a leader.
Factions within the Islamist party have been vocal about PKR’s choice of Dr Wan Azizah, as the new MB to succeed Khalid.
While PAS conceded to backing Dr Wan Azizah at the pact leadership council meeting on August 17, the party is adamant on an alternative and had proposed PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, as a second candidate.
While the party’s reasons for rejecting Dr Wan Azizah sole nomination were kept a secret, several news reports suggest that PAS doubted her leadership quality; the chances of her acting as Anwar’s proxy in Selangor’s administration; and that her appointment would require significant changes to palace and religious protocols.
