MB Azmin backtracks on exco composition, now says ‘negotiations’ still on

(Malay Mail Online) – Selangor mentri besar Azmin Ali has backtracked from his remarks earlier that the party composition of his mystery 10-man executive council has been finalised, saying that last-minute discussions are still underway.

“Media reports on the allocation of quotas for the state executive councillors are incorrect as the negotiation process is still underway,” he said on Twitter.

In contrast, he said just hours earlier that he will not make any changes to the party composition of his exco list.

“10 people, the composition shall remain 4-3-3 (PAS-PKR-DAP),” he told reporters when met outside Istana Mestika.

“I will announce them tomorrow,” he added.

Malay Mail Online understands that there are some within Pakatan Rakyat (PR) who are arguing against awarding PAS four exco seats as the Islamist party had broken ranks with PKR and DAP when their previous excos had remained to serve under Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had labelled the four PAS excos as traitors for remaining in Khalid’s previous administration following his sacking from PKR and his sacking of the six other excos.

The four PAS state assemblymen in question are Cempaka state lawmaker and Selangor PAS commissioner Iskandar Abdul Samad, Sallehen Mukhyi (Sabak), Dr Halimah Ali (Selat Klang) and Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (Sijangkang).

Azmin is now under pressure to award PAS less than four seats, but PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has demanded that the Selangor MB retain the four PAS Selangor executive councillors who had served under Khalid.

The previous exco line comprised of ten members — four from the Islamist party and three each from PKR and DAP.

PKR deputy president Azmin, who was sworn in on Tuesday as Selangor’s 15th mentri besar, takes over from Khalid who had held the post for more than six years from 2008.

Azmin’s appointment put an end to a protracted crisis which has pitted Pakatan Rakyat (PR) allies PKR, DAP and PAS against one another.

Khalid’s administration has been long been criticised as “stingy” by his critics, especially those aligned to Azmin.