Uncertain times for Pakatan

Pakatan Rakyat is fraught with uncertainties following the "Hadi Move", in which the PAS president submitted his own list of candidates for the Selangor mentri besar post, in defiance of the party central committee's decision.

The list is said to contain a PAS assemblyman and has excluded PKR chief Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ibrahim and her deputy Mohd Azmin Ali, in a departure from the party's early stand to nominate Wan Azizah in solidarity with PKR and DAP.

The latest development has rendered the "3-in-1" Pakatan to a "2 +1" partnership, seriously threatening the future cooperation of the coalition.

Political analyst Tang Ah Chai foresees several possible outcomes to the current MB crisis, including an MB with the shortest tenure, Sin Chew Daily reported yesterday.

He said if a PAS candidate is given the job, Pakatan will see more acute conflicts among its component parties.

Any failure of the new MB to secure the support of the majority of the assemblymen will lead to another MB crisis.

"With two PAS assemblymen pledging support for Wan Azizah, PKR and DAP have 30 – the majority in the 56-seat assembly – state representatives on their side, allowing them to move a vote of no-confidence on the new MB anytime, and get the state assembly dissolved."

Tang, who is Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall chief executive officer, said if this happens, the PAS MB will go down in history as the one with the shortest tenure in the state.

He said even if Wan Azizah is appointed, thus easing the current crisis, she must use her wisdom and show her capability in picking the new exco line-up.

"PAS will bargain for the top exco jobs. Azmin, too, will expect to be suitably rewarded for keeping a low profile and cooperating with the party chief."

If the Selangor Sultan picks Azmin to replace Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, Pakatan will still have to tackle the tricky problem of naming the new line-up, including the post to be given to Wan Azizah, said Tang.

He said PAS may taste short-term victory for breaking ranks with PKR and DAP on the MB issue, but may have to pay a heavy price in the long run.

-press digest