Sunday, May 12, 2013

Selangor MB Post: Between Polemic And PR Dilemma

The polemic on who would likely fill the post of Selangor menteri besar continues to rage as the leadership of the Pakatan Rakyat component parties, PKR, PAS and DAP contemptuously debate the matter, with no solution in sight.

The results of the 13th General Election saw PAS and DAP each winning 15 seats in the state legislative assembly, PKR 14 seats while Barisan Nasional took 12 seats and if seen individually, no party has the majority to rule.

However, in the absence of a majority, PAS, PKR and DAP need to form a coalition government in Selangor, with the major question on who the next Selangor menteri besar going unanswered. Are the three parties ready to face even bigger challenges after this?

Malaysian Council of Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak) president Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Rahman said the Selangor menteri besar polemic should not have protracted into a political issue as it could affect the wellbeing of the state.

He said the issue had become a political game between PKR and PAS and with the open support of PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang for Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as menteri besar, it had become a stumbling block for PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali who has been yearning for the post.

Besides Abdul Hadi, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang also pledged support for Abdul Khalid which further eroded Mohamed Azmin's chance.

"There is no need to playing games, the leaders need to sit together to thrash it out," Abdul Aziz told Bernama in an interview.

The primary condition to become Selangor menteri besar is based on the Selangor State Constitution 1959 in which the candidate must be of Malay origin and a Muslim.

Last Thursday, Abdul Hadi stated PAS' support for Abdul Khalid to continue as Selangor menteri besar. Earlier however, Selangor PAS Commissioner Dr Abdul Rani Osman said he was ready to fill the hot seat.

The political game between PKR and PAS continued yesterday when Selangor PAS Youth, through its deputy chief, Mohd Sany Hamzan, stressed there was no agreement the post must be allocated to PKR, if the three PR component parties were to rule the state.

In-fighting in PKR on the issue worsened yesterday when Mohamed Azmin questioned a letter sent by its president, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, to Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah on the menteri besar candidate.

Mohamed Azmin, who is also state assemblyman for Bukit Antarabangsa, said the letter was sent by Wan Azizah yesterday, without any discussion or consensus of the party's state assemblymen.

Abdul Aziz said, whether Mohamed Azmin, Abdul Khalid or anyone who received the consent of Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, the menteri besar had to overcome various problems arising from the failure of the previous coalition government of PAS, PKR and DAP.

He said as Abdul Khalid had failed to settle many basic issues for the people in Selangor, including water and rubbish issues, apart from his refusal to cooperate with the federal government on the water issue, he (Abdul Khalid) should not be re-appointed menteri besar.

"They cannot even agree on a basic issue, such as the Selangor menteri besar post. Do not play excessive politics as the party which suffers are the people (of Selangor), not them," he noted.

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