KUALA LUMPUR: WITH four days left to the deadline decreed by the sultan of Selangor, pressure is mounting on opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to end the Selangor leadership impasse in his favour.
While PKR and DAP are sticking to the consensus to nominate only his wife and PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for the menteri besar’s post, Pas yesterday continued to be the stumbling block by being steadfast in its stand to submit three names on Wednesday.
Political analyst Prof Dr Hoo Ke Ping said the crisis, which showed no signs of slowing down, could lead to the break-up of Pakatan, a situation Anwar would not want to happen.
“He is under tremendous pressure to make sure the ‘Kajang Move’ goes according to plan.
“He has underestimated Pas; he overestimated himself, thinking he could convince everybody.”
Hoo believed Anwar would not be able to convince Pas, saying the cracks in the coalition were evident before the menteri besar’s tussle.
“I do not think there would be any way for Anwar to get cooperation from Pas in this issue.
“Although party leaders may not admit it, it is becoming increasingly apparent that Pakatan’s days are numbered,” Hoo said.
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia senior lecturer Dr Mazlan Ali said Anwar had no choice but to plead to Pas to submit only Dr Wan Azizah’s name to the palace.
“He has no other choice. If he adheres to Pas’ decision, it would prove that the opposition pact is shaky.
“If the leadership crisis evolves into another crisis with the palace, things will go downhill for the loose coalition.”
He said there was also a possibility that Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah would call for the dissolution of the state legislative assembly if Pakatan refused to adhere to his decree.
Anwar, in urging Pas to uphold the Aug 17 decision to submit only one nomination to Sultan Sharafuddin yesterday, however, dismissed that Pakatan was treading on thin ice over the impasse.
He said the collective decision reached by PKR, DAP and Pas
during the Pakatan presidential council’s meeting must be respected.
“We appeal to Pas to accept the decision in the spirit of the coalition,” he said, adding that failing which, it would be the first time in history that the pact did not have consensus in the candidate for a menteri besar’s post.
A Pas central committee member said the party would stick to its decision to nominate Dr Wan Azizah and her deputy, Azmin Ali, for the menteri besar’s post.
The senior party leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the party may also opt for PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who is also state legislative assembly deputy speaker, as the third candidate if the palace rejected Dr Wan Azizah and Azmin.
“It is difficult to predict the final outcome of our discussions, but (we) feel that it is better to stick to our previous decision.
“If the palace rejects both names, then we’ll propose other names,” he told the New Straits Times yesterday.
He said Nik Nazmi’s name would definitely be brought up during the discussions.
On Nik Nazmi’s suitability, he said the Seri Setia assemblyman was a credible choice as he was the third highest ranking individual in the state legislative assembly.
He, however, said PKR may not be agreeable to Nik Nazmi’s candidacy as he was not well received by many PKR leaders.
“Nik Nazmi is the new PKR Youth chief but he comes from the other faction.
“Most of the winners in PKR’s recent elections are from the other camp.”
Pas secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali had on Wednesday said the party would nominate at least three names despite PKR and DAP’s stance to stick to nominating only Dr Wan Azizah.
Meanwhile, state Pas commissioner Iskandar Abdul Samad said the party would be submitting three names, but it had yet to decide who they were.
“Selangor Pas will only submit names proposed by the central leadership.
“The decision lies with the central leadership and we will respect that,” he said.
On Pas MP Khalid Samad’s call for Pas members to leave the party if they could not adhere to the “tahaluf siyasi” (political cooperation), Iskandar said it was Khalid’s personal view.
“I don’t think that Pas members who do not agree with the ‘tahaluf siyasi’ should quit as we have to abide by the party’s decision.” Additional reporting by Adrian Lai and Nuradilla Noorazam