Tough road ahead for Khalid

KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor Menteri Besar (MB) Khalid Ibrahim’s position hinges on tenterhooks after PAS’s confusing stand, claiming to no longer  support his leadership.

Its decision to name PKR president Dr Wan Azizah and her deputy Azmin Ali as candidates for the new MB has put Khalid in a tight spot.

However, the Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council in a separate meeting held subsequent to the special meeting of the PAS Central Working Committee today, named Dr Wan Azizah as the sole candidate for the post.

Political analyst Dr Chandra Muzaffar is of the opinion that the latest development places Khalid in a tough situation to retain the post of MB and to continue administering the state.

“I see Khalid in a difficult situation to continue as the MB but there are two things he could carry out in order to continue administering the state,” he said.

“Firstly, he could suggest to the Sultan to determine who is actually being supported by all the State Assemblymen in Selangor and to ensure if it was true Dr Wan Azizah has the support of the majority to become Menteri Besar,” said Chandra.

According to Chandra, the second choice for Khalid was to propose to the Sultan to dissolve the assembly and hold elections in the state.

Khalid, who held the post of MB at the consent of Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah after being sacked from PKR on August 9, said he received the support of the majority of the Selangor State Assemblymen to helm the state government.

Currently, PAS and DAP have 15 State Assembly seats each, PKR 13 and BN 12 with Khalid now an independent State Assemblyman.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin previously stated all 12 Barisan Nasional (BN) State Assemblymen in Selangor would support Khalid.

On PAS’s action in submitting the names of Dr Wan Azizah and Azmin as candidates for MB, Chandra said it was a tactic to state that the opposition pact was still relevant and strong.

“Maybe they (PAS) want to maintain  their good ties with PKR and DAP in the pact,” he said.

Meanwhile, political analyst Dr Kamrul Zaman Yusoff feels Khalid has the power to sack the four Executive Councillors from PAS who were still in his administration and replace them with BN State Assemblymen.

He said Khalid was still the MB of Selangor from a legal point of view despite not getting the support of the majority of State Assemblymen until a vote of no confidence is tabled at a meeting of the State Assembly.

“Nevertheless, it  all depends on the consent and the decision of the Sultan of Selangor on the matter,” he added. – BERNAMA