Selangor MB crisis: Azmin Ali has no PKR support, says Tian Chua

(The Star) – PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, who is said to be among the “front-runners” for the Selangor mentri besar post, appears not to have the support of his party.

Party vice-president Tian Chua said there had been no attempt to consult parties in the ruling coalition to verify if Azmin or any other candidate commands the majority support, a key criteria in appointing a new mentri besar.

“We will find it puzzling if the Palace chooses a name other than that already nominated by the PKR and other parties in the ruling coalition,” he said.

“The only criteria is for the mentri besar to command the majority in the House. It does not matter if he does not belong to any party,” said Chua.

The swearing-in of the new mentri besar is due to take place on Tuesday and Azmin was reportedly one of the three assemblymen vetted by Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to replace incumbent Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

The other two are PAS executive councillors Iskandar Samad and Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi.

PKR and DAP had submitted PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as their sole nominee and had been adamant not to forward more names as requested by the Sultan.

Contrary to his party’s stand to name only Dr Wan Azizah for the post, Chua said it was not fair to assume the PKR would reject the candidacy of other candidates, including those from PAS.

PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution reiterated the party’s one and only nominee for the post is Dr Wan Azizah, the wife of PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“News purportedly claiming Anwar had compromised and verbally consented (to another nominee) is not accurate,” said Saifuddin, stopping short of naming the other candidate as Azmin.

PKR treasurer-general William Leong said the party would not support any candidate other than Dr Wan Azizah, refering to the statutory declarations by 30 assemblymen supporting her candidacy.

“PKR and DAP did not name any other candidate,” he said.