WHY ARE BN MEDIA RUSHING TO SUPPORT AZMIN FOR MB: False news leaked PKR, DAP may accept his appointment

PETALING JAYA - It has been rumored that PKR deputy president Azmin Ali has been granted consent from the Selangor Sultan to become the next menteri besar of the state. Owing to their principles, both PKR and DAP may have to settle with the Sultan's decision.

The two parties have nevertheless indicated very clearly that they do not accept a PAS assemblyman as the MB, as this contravenes the common understanding achieved by Pakatan Rakyat in Selangor.

According to information from PKR, the party's elected reps are likely to table a motion of no confidence against the new MB in November's state assembly sitting if he is from PAS.

The palace has sent out invitations to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new MB next Tuesday. However, even with the swearing-in ceremony just around the corner, the palace still refuses to divulge any information on the identity of the new MB. Some of the state leaders, including state assembly speaker Hannah Yeoh and incumbent MB Khalid Ibrahim have even said they have yet to receive invitations.

PAS MB unacceptable

DAP's organizing secretary Anthony Loke told Sin Chew Daily DAP's stand is that the party will not accept a PAS assemblyman as the new Selangor MB because the common understanding among all Pakatan parties is that the MB post will belong to PKR.

He said if the choice of MB is from PKR, and is supported by the party, then he will get the support from DAP, adding that DAP may have to accept Azmin Ali as the new MB out of no choice.

He said DAP would convene a central committee meeting over the next one or two days to discuss the latest political developments in Selangor.

State DAP chairman Tony Pua also said if PKR accepts Azmin Ali as the new MB, DAP will also accept.

"DAP will convene a meeting to talk about this, but basically we have no issue with him (Azmin)."

Bad precedent

Political analysts feel that it is yet to be seen whether the prolonged Selangor MB crisis would come to a close following next Tuesday's swearing-in ceremony, for example whether Azmin Ali would revert to the old way of Khalid Ibrahim, and whether conflicts between PKR and PAS would be aggravated and how the three parties are going to patch up their relationship.

Political analyst Phoon Wing Keong told Sin Chew Daily he expected both PKR and DAP to accept Azmin Ali as the new MB since the Sultan appears to be unwilling to appoint Wan Azizah as the MB.

"If Azmin Ali is appointed, to PKR and DAP the whole thing could come to a rest for the time being so that they can now focus on the state administration. At least the MB post remains in the hands of PKR."

As the deputy president, Azmin commands quite significant grassroots support in the party and it is generally believed that he has more convincing political ability to assume the MB post.

However he said there are also issues with the appointment of Azmin Ali, as this contravenes Pakatan's political principle that the candidate winning the support of majority state assemblyman has not been appointed by the Sultan.

"There could be grave consequences and could set an unhealthy precedent whereby a leader getting majority support might not make it to the office of prime minister or menteri besar.

"From the power logical point of view, appointing a candidate not getting the support of majority of reps as MB would pose some problems in his execution of power in the future."

Phoon pointed out that if the Sultan eventually picks the PAS candidate and PAS accepts the appointment, then it is likely for Pakatan to head down the road of disintegration, and what will happen next is beyond our imagination, for example whether PKR and DAP will table a motion of no confidence against the new MB in the state assembly sitting in November.

He said it remains to be seen whether Azmin will eventually revert to the old way of Khalid Ibrahim.

"Are the state administrative affairs dictated by Anwar Ibrahim and Wan Azizah, or controlled by Azmin Ali through his factional forces in the party?"

Although Azmin is the elected deputy president of PKR, many in the party remain skeptical of him. It is yet to see whether Azmin's appointment will spark a new round of factional conflicts in the party.

He said Pakatan's priority is not hold fresh state elections as the pact faces the risk of losing grip of the state administration as Chinese voters are expected to shun PAS candidates.

Compromise

Meanwhile, information from PKR said the party may have to compromise and accept Azmin Ali as the new MB if he is appointed by the Sultan.

According to the information, some of the party leaders previously unhappy with Azmin Ali have expressed willingness to accept his appointment out of no choice.

"Azmin Ali's appointment will signal the complete flop of the Kajang Plan, because the original objective of the plan was to reject Azmin's takeover of MB post from Khalid."

PKR members are worried that Azmin's appointment could further accentuate the party's internal conflicts, thus affecting party solidarity. But given the fact that things have developed to this stage, the party has no other options but to accept.

However,PKR will not accept a PAS assemblyman as the new MB.

"Both PKR and DAP will not compromise if PAS gets the job. We are prepared to table a motion of no confidence against the new MB come November."

PAS MB unlikely to survive no-confidence vote

Political analyst Tan Ah Chai told Sin Chew Daily the worst-case scenario if PKR and DAP reps table a motion of no confidence against the new MB is the dissolution of the state assembly paving the way for fresh state elections, in which case even if Pakatan is returned to power, it is also unlikely for Kak Wan to be Selangor MB.

When asked to comment whether it is possible for PAS to work with Umno if its assemblyman is appointed the new MB, Tan said this is unlikely to happen judging from the number of seats in the state assembly, unless PAS can successfully lobby for the support of other reps or the two PAS reps supporting Wan Azizah.

"PAS has 13 (two have expressed support for Kak Wan), plus Khalid and 12 Umno reps only make up 26, vis-à-vis 30 from the other camp.

"As such, the PAS MP is at most a weak one, and he is not likely to survive a motion of no confidence against him." -Mysinchew