SELANGOR PR SPLIT, ANWAR’S KAJANG MOVE FAILS

Selangor Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is breaking up which may lead to the opposition loose alliance splitting up at national level.

Minus the DAP which seems to be solidly behind Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Kajang Move, PAS is distancing itself and with PKR’s bashing up the Islamic party, cracks seem to break open wider.

The Selangor Mentri Besar issue has now led to PKR going on PAS bashing spree as the Islamic party seems to stay put with its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat stand that present Selangor Mentri Besar should stay his term.

At a forum last night titled ‘Selangor Crisis – Pakatan Split’, PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli revealed that PAS leadership had never wanted PKR de facto chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to become Prime Minister.

He said the party instead had proposed former Umno vice-president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to take over as Prime Minister if the opposition alliance defeated Barisan Nasional (BN) in the last general election.

Rafizi further revealed that the Kajang Move was initiated following PAS’ insistent in not supporting Anwar as Prime Minister which, he added would not have an end even if discussed further on the issue.

Rafizi’s open show of disatisfaction against PAS for not supporting the Kajang Move to replace Khalid with Wan Azizah is considered as ‘ill mannered’ where opinions of partners in PR are not respected.

PAS, helmed by veterans and Islamic scholars may be slighted and this does not go down well with them, who have yet to sit down and deal with the issue thoroughly.

PAS stand on the matter is an open secret as the party has always looked upon Tengku Razaleigh as having the substance to become Prime Minister even during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s time as Prime Minister.

This was revealed when when the oppositions formed a loose alliance in 1999 general election with the parties being DAP, PAS and Semangat 46 (headed by Tengku Razaleigh).

Even until today, PAS leaders still look upon Tengku Razaleigh as a statesman who is better than Anwar in terms of credibility and experience.

PAS bashing by Rafizi may strengthen Abdul Hadi and Nik Aziz opinions when the leaders of the Islamic party meet this Sunday to discuss the Mentri Besar issue and decide whether to support Wan Azizah to replace Khalid.

The Islamic party is already split on the issue with leaders aligned to Anwar supporting the Kajang move while the old fundamentalists, who have known Anwar since their Muslim Youth Movement (Abim) days, are against Anwar’s plan.

Rafizi’s PAS bashing in the forum may slight the old fundamentalist further and this will not help Anwar in anyway to change the mindset of Abdul Hadi and Nik Aziz.

Tonight, PAS Ulamak Council is holding a special prayer for Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim to stay on as Mentri Besar.

PAS’ Sunday meeting is not expected to be ‘heaty’ as Abdul Hadi and Nik Aziz had already show the ‘path’ sort of in their open statements as it would be up to those aligned to Anwar to convince the fundamentalists why Khalid should be replaced.

Meanwhile, within PKR itself, Selangor seems split in wanting Datin Seri Wan Azizah Ismail as Mentri Besar when a press conference held to voice support for Wan Azizah in writing, minus Azmin Ali and Khalid himself in the signed letter.

At the end of the press conference chaos broke up when someone with PKR shirt distributed a statement that Azmin should also be considered as a Mentri Besar candidate given his vast experience in administration and politics.

In short, Anwar’s Kajang Move to remove Khalid has torn apart PR and PKR as Khalid stands dig deeper into the ground to defend his position.