DR WAN AZIZAH’S FAILED MB BID A BLOW TO ANWAR

(Bloomberg) – The ruler of Malaysia’s most populous state chose the deputy president of the opposition People’s Justice Party to head the regional government in a setback for party head Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who had sought to install his wife in the post.

Azmin Ali was appointed chief minister of Selangor yesterday and will be sworn in today, according to a letter from the palace of Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah. Azmin replaces Khalid Ibrahim, who was forced out of the post by Anwar’s coalition, which controls the region that accounted for almost a quarter of Malaysia’s gross domestic product in 2012.

The three parties in the Pakatan Rakyat alliance led by Anwar had bickered for months over the removal of Khalid and who should replace him. Anwar, who is awaiting a verdict on his appeal of a sodomy conviction, had tried to install his wife and People’s Justice Party President Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, a move opposed by the sultan and some of Anwar’s allies.

“This is a clear case where he was defeated,” said Wan Saiful Wan Jan, chief executive of the Kuala Lumpur-based Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, referring to Anwar. “It is a setback. But if he can galvanize the force together, put their acts together and bring the coalition together again, at least there’s an opportunity to move forward. The national election is still four years in future.”

The squabble increased tensions within the coalition, formed by three disparate parties with little in common apart from the goal of unseating Prime Minister Najib Razak’s Barisan Nasional alliance, which has governed the country since independence in 1957.

The Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party backed Wan Azizah. The third coalition partner, Parti Islam SeMalaysia, initially supported keeping Khalid in the position, then decided to support its partners and remove Khalid to avoid a breakup of the alliance.

Jail time

Anwar’s legal troubles have strained the coalition’s chances of ousting Barisan Nasional. In March, the Court of Appeal overturned his 2012 acquittal on sodomy charges and he is awaiting a ruling next month on his appeal of that decision. Anwar has said the charges are politically motivated. He previously served six years in prison for a separate conviction on sodomy and abuse of power.

The disagreement over Selangor has also given the sultan an opportunity to exert his power. He had asked each party in Pakatan Rakyat to suggest three nominees for the chief minister position, a request only PAS heeded. Anwar’s party and DAP named Dr Wan Azizah their sole candidate.

The failure of the two parties to follow the royal order prompted the sultan to issue a statement calling it an act of “disloyalty.” While DAP and Anwar separately apologised to the sultan they insisted on submitting only Dr Wan Azizah’s name.

Dr Wan Azizah released an e-mailed statement saying she accepted the sultan’s choice of Azmin.