And the new MB is….

(NST) – ON the surface, the new menteri besar of Selangor could struggle to command the majority support in the State Legislative Assembly.

However, the Selangor palace had been unmistakably thorough in appointing the new menteri besar, to be sworn in tomorrow with the appointment serving as a means of resolving an already protracted crisis.

This has been the consensus of analysts and insiders contacted by the New Straits Times yesterday.

“The Sultan of Selangor has taken his time to make his decision and has met all three potential candidates (PKR’s Azmin Ali and Pas’ Iskandar Samad and Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi).

“He has done his homework and I am sure he will choose someone whom he is certain will not betray his trust,” said a source.

The obvious difficulty stems from PKR’s insistence that there would be no compromise on its decision that the party would only support its president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

This effectively meant the new menteri besar would have to brace for rocky days ahead.

“He will most probably suffer the same fate as Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

“The new menteri besar will be forced to convene the state assembly sitting early to prove that he has majority support, or else, he would be pressured to resign from his post.

“However, unlike Khalid, the new menteri besar would be inexperienced and this would put the state government administration in jeopardy and prolonged turmoil.

The source said, judging from PKR’s unwavering support for Dr Wan Azizah, deputy president Azmin Ali would not be getting the majority support if he were to call for a state assembly sitting.

At the same time, the source said, one must not underestimate the sultan’s decision.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia senior lecturer Dr Mazlan Ali said DAP and PKR would see Pas as a traitor in the coalition as the party would most likely not refuse the appointment.

“The new state government under the menteri besar will also be unstable as he will not be able to secure the majority of the state assembly.

“PKR and DAP will push for a vote of no confidence against him once the assembly sits in November and the whole political crisis will start again.

“Therefore, I think it will be unwise for Pas to accept the appointment.”

Mazlan, however, felt that Azmin would be able to get the necessary support as Pakatan only has a 50-50 chance of retaining the state in the event of a state election due to the crisis.