No Pakatan Harapan in Selangor? – Azmin’s grand plan to oust PAS politely
Umar Mukhtar
At first glance, it appears that PKR’s Menteri Besar Azmin Ali wants the legitimacy to keep PAS in the Selangor state government, to the joy of PAS. After all, that’s the least he could do to pay back and appear grateful for all the help PAS leadership had given him in his subtle quest to be appointed MB and, in the bigger scope, his rivalry against his own president.
DAP doesn’t mind that, even if it means their Selangor Excos won’t be talking to their PAS counterparts until PRU14. It’s the nature of the hypocritical beast. Or more accurately, it is a matter that has been pondered by the two sides. It is a respectable way out in order to put PAS in its proper place in Selangor.
Consider this, in three-cornered fights with PAN and UMNO in Selangor, it is not inconceivable that PAS will lose a great number its present seats to either UMNO or PAN. Especially without the Chinese votes as directed by DAP, PAS really does not stand a chance anywhere in the state, if PAN contests to be spoilers, just to make a point.
Read Azmin’s proposition in the light of PKR wanting to increase its seats in Selangor. So do DAP. Between the two of them they will come to an agreement as to which mixed seats each other will stand in. That leaves PAN with seats which it either can win on its own, or purely Malay-majority seats against PAS. PAS is sure to lose some seats to either PAN with the help from tiny enclaves of Chinese votes which DAP controls, or to UMNO which even will be without help from its comatose Chinese allied parties.
The overall result will show PKR and DAP together being able to form the new state government. PAN can join gratefully later, like dutiful dogs in the manger, when PH comes to Selangor. PAS will be left in the cold with a few seats at best. Even if DAP has more seats than PKR, chances are the MB will still be Azmin, unless Aziz Bari or whoever else is DAP’s Malay lapdog, can mount a lame challenge.
Can’t PAS see this ploy by Azmin? It probably can, once it stops frothing in the mouth over PAN, and cool down allegations of corruption in its state government in Kelantan. But beggars can’t be choosers. Standing by itself, PAS will, at best, be a marginal regional opposition party in the Malay belt. On the other hand, joining BN, if strategically done, might save it. But if their present leaders’ head-space are any guide, the move will probably be suicidal, to the glee of PAN.
If allowed to get traction, Azmin’s ploy may be to his success. But being MB doesn’t solve the Malay predicament in Selangor, as long as PKR depends on DAP’s Chinese votes to win elections. It’s about time it worked to get its own. Let’s see if Malaysia is really ready for true multi-racialism, and not just racial groupings of alliances of convenience.
