A JEALOUSY SINCE ABIM DAYS: Will Hadi finally wake up & stop trying to hem in Anwar and PKR?

Apart from the palace’s role, the crisis in Selangor is dragging on due to the failure of PAS and PKR to agree on who should replace Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Last night, PAS openly rejected Dr Wan Azizah Ismail’s candidacy but PKR continues to remain adamant in wanting its president to helm the state.

Prior to this, a meeting between PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim also failed to break the deadlock.

Anwar and PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail are determined that Wan Azizah replaces Khalid but PAS has urged its ally to submit two additional names to the palace.

For PAS, Anwar and Saifuddin have displayed an uncompromising stand which has effectively ended discussions on this issue.

There was also talk that Hadi only met Anwar for 15 minutes and not for an hour as claimed due to the PAS president being frustrated with PKR’s recalcitrant attitude.

Salahuddin's stinging statement

The reason for PAS objecting to Wan Azizah taking over has yet to be ascertained but its secretary-general Mustafa Ali last night denied that it was related to gender.

PAS was also reported as saying that it understands that the sultan does not consent to Wan Azizah.

But now Wan Azizah has succeeded in showing that she has the majority in the state assembly with the support of two PAS state assemblypersons Hasnul Baharuddin (Morib) and Saari Sungib (Hulu Kelang).

The support of the two PAS reps has other implications. The pair have contravened the stand of their party’s Syura Council and president, who wanted all PAS leaders to back Khalid.

PAS is also not comfortable with PKR “stealing” two of its reps just to drive home the point that Wan Azizah is the sole choice for the MB post.

Several hours after Wan Azizah’s announcement of having support, PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub issued a statement which appeared to be critical of PKR and Anwar.

Salahuddin recalled how PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat immediately sacked his son-in-law from a state-owned firm following allegations of cronyism and nepotism.

Anwar too has been accused of this due to wanting his wife, Wan Azizah, to become the menteri besar.

Salahuddin also mentioned the words “idolising an individual in a party” and “autocratic behaviour”, which are descriptions often used to criticise Anwar and his diehard supporters.

Delving into history, he said the Kelantan PAS government fell in the past when “issues of cronyism, nepotism and autocratic behaviour ” controlled the party and state leadership.

Why is PKR so adamant?

PAS is perplexed as to why PKR is insisting on Wan Azizah when the Islamic party only asked for two additional names to be included on the list.

“PAS can agree to three names being submitted and all of them from PKR, including Wan Azizah.

“But PKR has vehemently objected this and even threatened PAS. PKR just wants one name,” a party insider told Malaysiakini.

Based on this scenario, the question now is who would give in - would Hadi bow to Anwar or would the opposition leader concede to the PAS president?

The next question is - even if PAS agrees to Wan Azizah during its meeting slated for Sunday, would the palace give its consent?

If there is no agreement between Hadi and Anwar, then the Selangor crisis is bound to drag on further.

The issue now is not PKR versus Khalid, but the friction between PAS and PKR. -M'kini