Pakatan Rakyat is Resolved on Selangor MB

The Pakatan Rakyat leadership just made a press statement on this matter. It was a clear statement to give face to PAS and Hadi who had earlier the day decided to stay with Pakatan Rakyat and also nominated Azmin as an additional candidate for the MB post. That move was veiled as a step to allow Hadi to save face for coming out to defend Khalid openly and then Khalid got the sack thereby making Hadi’s position totally untenable.

Tonight, PR press statement thanks PAS for the support and acknowledge their endorsement of Azmin. In a twist of face saving move, it also states that Azmin remains steadfast to the PKR decision to name Wan Azizah as the new MB of Selangor.

Wan Azizah shows the numbers, PAS duo gains the respect

PKR Wan Azizah, State rep for Kajang, had a press conference today together with 29 other reps from PKR, DAP and PAS. A total of 30 reps came out to declare a loss of confidence against MB Khalid in public. This is more than a simple majority of 28. A possible catch is that one of them is the Speaker of the State Assembly, Hannah Yeoh, who can cast her vote in the event of a tie in a no-confidence motion.

Anyway, as expected, Khalid brushed this aside as he says to wait until November when the house meets again to allow for the no-confidence motion. Meanwhile, he is getting ever so bold to change things in the Selangor State administration. He has only 4 PAS reps in the Exco now given that the remaining PKR rep resigned today. This is the minimum number allowed in the State Constitution. This may change on Sunday when PAS leadership meets to decide on their position.

The two PAS reps, Hulu Kelang Saari Sungib and Morib Hasnul Baharuddin, gained full respect of the voters as they stood up for Pakatan Rakyat without fear or favor. They were steadfast even in light of threats of investigation by PAS. They stood up for what they believed for, not themselves but the interest of Selangor and PR. Many voters asked where their PAS reps were given their support was crucial for such an important event. Alas, they chose to toe the line to wait for Sunday while Selangor burns with Khalid’s ridiculous moves.

MB Khalid Masterful Stroke

Today, MB Khalid made his move to show that he is no pushover. Despite being sacked from PKR, he must have sufficient indications of support from BN as well as HRH Sultan of Selangor. PAS must have also given the tacit support so that the remaining PAS Exco was the minimum number to form the State Exco while firing the rest of the 6 members from PKR and DAP.

The loan restructure for Khalid by alleged Umno lawyer has given him a new lease of boldness and one wonders if he is being a proxy for BN right now. There is no real meaning for Khalid to fight unless it is not his fight or he is forced to fight. Khalid’s political support is all but gone. The Selangor voters have written him off.

With the Sultan having gone overseas which is rather strange given the crisis in his state, his absence will cause the crisis to drag until his return. The Selangor reps can demonstrate the majority to propose a removal but will have to wait until the Sultan returns and grants an audience.

MB Khalid Last Stand

MB Khalid has been sacked from PKR. PAS must decide their position on the Selangor MB. DAP has decided to stand with PKR. Khalid met with HRH Sultan of Selangor to confirm his MB position. Khalid challenges his Exco to quit if they cannot work with him. DPM Muhyiddin says BN stands with Khalid as MB.

Anwar is scheduled to meet with Hadi later this week on this matter. Hadi had earlier made public his support for Khalid before he was sacked. Anwar believes he can resolve this delicate matter given Khalid is no longer a Pakatan Rakyat member.

Khalid has painted himself into a corner where he cannot stand down. His overinflated ego has destroyed his political career completely. Any party taking him in will be purely for political expedience. Once this MB episode finds its equilibrium, Khalid will be of no use. He has lost the public interest and support.

Make or Break for Pakatan in Selangor

MB Khalid has been hauled up to appear before the PKR disciplinary committee and it does not look like he will oblige. Sunday will be a date to reckon for Pakatan Rakyat as PKR and DAP and possibly PAS will meet within their leadership committees. The PAS syura already decided to back a decision to retain Khalid as MB. Will the PAS leadership concur?

Obviously, this episode is particularly interesting to all Malaysians, not just Selangorians. How Pakatan Rakyat as a coalition resolves this thorny issue will have significant impact on the future of Malaysia politics. How will PAS unravel itself without creating a split amongst its ranks? How will Anwar fix this while his Sodomy 2 appeal is rushed for hearing? This is a case for political magic by Anwar and the Pakatan Rakyat leadership. Will they stay for common goals or will they split for individual expedience?

MB Khalid argues that he cannot be questioned for his actions as MB for various executive decisions for things like Kidex, the water restructuring, etc. Apparently, MB Khalid forgot that he is not in private management any longer. He is appointed by PKR and supported by PAS and DAP. A political appointment. So he needs to answer to PKR and also the Selangor voters. So far, he has not attempted to do either.

His loan restructuring has become a very suspicious arrangement with Umno. A too good to be true deal always turns heads and theories.

Selangor Dilemma

The open move to replace Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim with Wan Azizah does not appear smooth at all. The Selangor Sultan has made open his thoughts and getting his approval may be a hurdle. The MB Khalid is not budging and insist that he will stay until the end of his term. PAS President Hadi Awang voiced his view of status quo although the PAS leadership seems to endorse the change together with DAP.

It is the latest expose of the PAS central committee Whatsapp screenshot of a very sensitive conversation now released on the Internet has stirred serious emotions. The contents of the conversation points to the Operations Director Dr Zuhdi suggesting for PAS to leave Pakatan Rakyat and join forces with Umno to retain control and to suggest that the year end delineation can strengthen Malay candidates to ensure that the minority voters cannot raise their issues effectively. Dr Zuhdi did not dispute the authenticity but rather defended that this was merely his analysis as requested by the central party members. He felt that he is being wrongly accused, according to his facebook posting.

Questions from UiTM Incident

There are a number of pertinent questions to ask from this ultra extreme reaction by the students of UiTM and various politicians to the purported suggestion of Khalid Ibrahim for opening a 10% quota for non-bumiputra and international students in the university.

1. What did Khalid actually say? I can’t find the exact words he uttered anywhere but in an article in Malaysia Today quoting Anwar that Khalid actually said something else (read here).