Second phase of Kajang Move?

Salleh Buang, NST

Is history repeating itself in Selangor? Are we witnessing the beginning of the second phase of Langkah Kajang (Kajang Move)?

In 2014, a political manoeuvre known as Langkah Kajang was used with the aim of toppling the 14th menteri besar, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim. The objective was to install opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the 15th MB.

Lee Chin Cheh, a PKR state assemblyman, had resigned on Jan 27, paving the way for a by-election in which Anwar was intended to be the beneficiary. The strategy was the brainchild of PKR strategy director, then vice-president-cum-secretary-general of the party, Rafizi Ramli.

Unfortunately, Anwar was convicted in his second sodomy case by the Court of Appeal, so his spouse, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, had to take his place as the PKR candidate. She won the by-election with a majority of 5,379 votes, but the plan to install Anwar came to a dead end, and Selangor was embroiled in a political crisis for nine months.

In July, that same year, Dr Wan Azizah received the official endorsement of party leaders to become the next MB. However, on Aug 11, Khalid claimed that the Sultan of Selangor had given his consent for him to continue serving as MB and that he enjoyed the support of most of the assemblymen. Three days later, Dr Wan Azizah claimed she was the one enjoying the majority support.

On Aug 26, Khalid resigned as MB. The crisis ended when PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali was sworn in as the 15th MB on Sept 23, while Anwar was (and still is) in Sungai Buloh prison. In the end, Dr Wan Azizah told the media that she accepted Azmin’s appointment “with an open heart”.

Some quarters, however, doubted the sincerity of that statement. Many political analysts viewed Langkah Kajang as a failure. A columnist of a popular news portal said the political rift in Pakatan Rakyat brought about by the manoeuvre “will remain until the next general election”. Rafizi, however, maintained that it was not a failure although it had led to nine months of political upheaval, cost taxpayers RM1.6 million to hold the by-election and resulted in PKR not getting the MB of its choice.

Over the last two years since Azmin took over the administration of the state, many thought this old rift between Dr Wan Azizah and Rafizi (on one side) and Azmin (on the other) would not resurface. But it did recently. On May 19 this year, Rafizi dropped a bombshell when he said in a WhatsApp message that he had received complaints about “money and women” being requested during negotiations with unnamed persons working with the state government.

Talking to reporters two days later, Rafizi said he had written a WhatsApp message about corrupt activities in the PKR-led Selangor government. He also admitted urging his comrades in the party to uphold the same standards that they expected from Barisan Nasional leaders.

“I prefer to err on the side of caution as I have always maintained that as a reform party, we must be whiter than white.” He said he would compile a report of the information that he had gathered and submit it to Dr Wan Azizah. As expected, Azmin quickly denied the allegations, saying that there was no proof.

“These accusations are part of a systematic smear campaign against the state government.” He said if there was even a shred of evidence to support these allegations, it was incumbent on those making them to report the matter to the authorities.

On May 30, Rafizi walked into the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters to submit his report. Having received the information from Rafizi previously, Dr Wan Azizah had instructed him to submit “any evidence of alleged corruption” to MACC. Declining to give details about his report, Rafizi said although it was “rare” for a senior party leader to lodge a report against his own members, he emphasised that “it should be the way”.

Hopefully, MACC would carry out a thorough investigation, he added. The Selangor State Assembly has 56 seats — Pakatan Harapan (29), Pas (13), BN (12) and Independent (2). The Pakatan Harapan seats are shared by DAP (14 seats), PKR (13) and Parti Amanah Negara (PAN) (2). Although PKR does not have the largest number of seats in the house, it has traditionally held the menteri besar’s post.

The June 18 by-election in Sungai Besar sees a three-cornered fight for a parliamentary seat between BN, Pas and PAN, clearly showing that Pas is no longer in sync with its former allies, DAP and PKR. Some quarters said PAN is the “new Pas” in Selangor.

Political analysts have been asking whether this friction between Rafizi and Azmin will ultimately bring about the latter’s downfall. Is this phase two of Langkah Kajang? Will Azmin suffer the same fate as Khalid, and if Azmin is unseated, will Rafizi become the next MB?

Rafizi is member of parliament for Pandan and PKR’s secretary-general, but not a member of the state assembly. A lot of groundwork needs to be done by the party, and a second Lee Chin Cheh must vacate his state seat so that a by-election has to be called and Rafizi can then stand as a candidate, while retaining his MP’s seat. Meanwhile Rafizi vehemently denied that he had been “bought” by Umno to sabotage PKR.

Salleh Buang formerly served the Attorney-General’s Chambers before he left for private practice, the corporate sector and, then, academia