Azmin will use his MB powers to punish PAS for Sungai Besar snub
(Malaysian Digest) – PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali is reportedly disappointed over PAS’s announcement of wanting Meru assemblyman Dr Abdul Rani Osman to contest in the Sungai Besar by-election.
It was reported that Azmin intends to use his power as Menteri Besar to withdraw all the facilities and privileges acquired over the years including media support from Selangorkini and TV Selangor, among others to PAS leaders.
According to sources, the Selangor MB will resort to more extreme actions after his threat to fire three PAS members from the Selangor exco to prevent them from fielding a candidate in the Sungai Besar by-election did not deter the Islamist party from doing so.
Quoting a PKR source, the PAS top leadership was reportedly uncompromising despite Azmin explaining in depth that the Islamist party won’t be short-changed and its interests would be well protected if they refrain from contesting in Selangor.
Azmin is reportedly both unhappy and disappointed after PKR’s hopes to contest in the parliamentary seat against Barisan Nasional (BN) in a straight fight has been dashed by PAS going solo.
According to media reports, it is understood that Pakatan Harapan is currently considering candidates from Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) and PKR to compete against BN and PAS for the Sungai Besar parliamentary seat.
Meanwhile, DAP had said earlier that the party would not contest in the parliamentary seat, thereby allowing either Amanah or PKR to nominate their candidates to be fielded in the by-election.
Analysts have previously predicted that Amanah is comparatively more well-positioned than PKR in terms of gaining voter support in the constituency, hence the PAS splinter party is automatically viewed as a more viable choice to contest in the by-election.
Among Amanah candidates who were rumored to be fielded in the Sungai Besar by-election is the party’s president, Mohamad Sabu who was defeated in Kuala Selangor in the 13th general election although his vote counts were ahead of PAS as well as Amanah strategy director Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
It is understood that the Pakatan presidential council will hold a discussion on the matter tomorrow (31 May) and any speculation on whether or not Pakatan Harapan would put up their candidates will be answered by then.
Sungai Besar goes to the polls on June 18 after its incumbent Noriah Kasnon was killed in a helicopter crash in Sarawak earlier this month.
