Amanah leader: Not Azmin’s place to dismiss need for Pakatan Harapan in Selangor
(Malay Mail Online) – Azmin Ali’s declaration that a Pakatan Harapan administration is not needed in Selangor was premature as he is not the president of PKR, said Parti Amanah Negara deputy president Salahuddin Ayub said.
Salahuddin added that such a determination must come from the new opposition pact’s top leadership in order to give it the certainty needed to allay public questions about Pakatan Harapan’s role in the state.
“Azmin is only deputy president although he is Mentri Besar of Selangor. Because PKR is part of Pakatan Harapan, he cannot simply mention, maybe his personal opinion,” Salahuddin told Malay Mail Online.
“We do not want to repeat what happened in Pakatan Rakyat, so whatever Azmin said, we at the presidential council must discuss this matter.”
He confirmed that Amanah’s cooperation with the two other Pakatan Harapan parties — PKR and DAP — has not been affected by Azmin’s Thursday remarks.
On Thursday, Azmin had said Selangor and Penang’s differences meant a Pakatan Harapan government was not needed in the former.
He also reportedly confirmed that PKR’s Supreme Council resolved two weeks ago to work with all federal opposition parties including PAS, PSM and those in Sabah and Sarawak.
PAS has cut off ties with former ally DAP and refused to join in the new opposition pact Pakatan Harapan, which includes PAS offshoot Amanah.
When contacted, Amanah communications director Khalid Samad said Azmin’s remarks was expected and not surprising given the current composition of the Selangor state assembly.
He agreed with Azmin’s reading of the difference between Selangor and Penang, pointing out that there was a sizeable contingent of PAS lawmakers in former that was absent in the latter.
“We can see there’s a big difference. We understand his dilemma, so as far as we are concerned, it’s a not a big problem, what is important is strengthening Amanah and Pakatan Harapan,” Khalid said.
PAS only holds one state seat in DAP-dominated Penang, while the Islamist party accounts for 13 of the Selangor state assembly against DAP’s 15, PKR’s 13, Barisan Nasional’s 12, Amanah’s two seats and one independent assemblyman.
“I think the best solution would be a coalition between PAS and Pakatan Harapan for the Selangor government,” Khalid said, confirming that his proposal has been mentioned in passing in Amanah meetings but has yet to undergone serious discussion.
This proposal would ensure a stable government in Selangor as it would acknowledge both PAS and Pakatan Harapan’s positions in the state administration, he said.
“If possible the state leaders should get down to formalise Pakatan Harapan in Selangor and to formalise the relationship between Pakatan Harapan and PAS as a coalition government,” the Shah Alam MP said.
