Amanah: Is Azmin playing dangerous palace politics?

(Malaysiakini) – Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali must explain if he is playing a “dangerous” game by using “palace politics” to justify keeping PAS in the state government, said Selangor Parti Amanah Negara deputy chief Saari Sungib.

Saari said the MB, who is PKR deputy president, needs to clarify perception that he is pandering to palace that the government has a Malay majority, and if there is indeed such an expectation.

“With due respect to Azmin, whom I still assist and support, he has been trying to play with a dangerous political culture, i.e. palace politics.

“Meaning, the issue emphasised in Selangor is the state (should be) formed by majority Malay representatives,” the Hulu Klang assemblyperson said.

If the allegation is true, he said, Azmin should instead tell the palace that Selangor has eight Malay state executive councillors out of 11.

Saari who is also Amanah central committee member, said this at a forum organised by Gerakbudaya in Petaling Jaya today.

The Selangor government is made up of PAS, PKR and DAP representatives, despite the collapse of the tripartite Pakatan Rakyat coalition last year.

PKR and DAP joined with PAS splinter party Amanah to form Pakatan Harapan, but PAS continues to have four representatives on the state executive council thanks to PAS-PKR cooperation.

PKR, DAP and Amanah can form the Selangor government with 30 assemblypersons, but it will only have 12 Malay representatives as opposed to 25 if PAS is in government.

The Selangor legislative assembly has 56 seats.

PAS and PKR have 13 seats each while DAP has 15. Amanah holds two seats, Umno 12 while Abdul Khalid Ibrahim is the sole independent assemblyperson after being sacked from PKR.

When met at a separate event in Petaling Jaya later, Azmin told Malaysiakini he cannot comment on the matter immediately.

‘PAS beyond repair’

Saari also told Azmin that it is unproductive to continue cooperation with PKR, arguing that the Islamist party is “beyond repair”

“If it want to be repaired, it will take 20 to 30 years to repair PAS,” he said.

“Thus, let us move on to a new party,” said Saari, who left PAS to join the splinter party Amanah.

Saari, who is also Hulu Klang state assemblyperson, drew the conclusion based on the refusal of ulama leaders to accept different voices.

PAS ulama faction often view the matter from a micro perspective and make conclusive statement where the dissidents’ views were rejected, he said.

“Their approaches are final – not tentative, participative and inclusive. Final in a sense that this is from Quran, hadith and sunnah (prophetic traditions) that you have to follow,” he said.

“Their view is final and verdict, this is dangerous,” he said, adding the sense of loyalty played prominant role in PAS.

This is different to technocrats or professionals in PAS – many of whom left to form Amanah – whose views could be subject to be further discussion, he said.

Not concerned about Dr M’s new party

Meanwhile, Saari said Pakatan Harapan is not concerned that its role as the main opposition coalition will be marginalised with the formation of former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s new party.

“We are not rigid, we are not closed-minded. We see this as a bigger and broader strategy to change (the government).

Mahathir and former Umno leaders want a bigger coalition to unite Pakatan Harapan, Gabungan Rakyat Saksama and PAS-Ikatan’s third force.

Gabungan Rakyat Saksama is an opposition coalition which will be launched soon, believed to consist of East Malaysian opposition political parties.