KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 — PKR and PAS are still locking horns over who should replace Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as Selangor mentri besar with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim insisting his wife should take the post while Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang wants an alternative candidate, sources said.

PAS officials said the closed-door emergency meeting between Anwar and Hadi in Terengganu last night did not result in any resolution to the protracted dispute as both party leaders would not budge from their respective positions.

The deadlock adds to speculation that the fledgling Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact could be heading for a break-up over the MB crisis.

“Dr Wan Azizah’s ‘counterpart’ (Anwar) insisted on only one name while Hadi is adamant that PKR provide two names for the (Selangor) Sultan to consider,” a senior party leader told Malay Mail Online.

Anwar rushed to meet Hadi in an unscheduled meeting last night, hoping to get an assurance from the leader that PAS will support PKR’s manoeuvres in the unresolved political crisis in Selangor.

The meeting came after PKR’s decision to sack Khalid from the party did not result in the leader’s removal or resignation from his post as mentri besar. Instead, Khalid met with the Selangor Sultan and obtained the ruler’s consent to continue on in his post, effectively scuppering PKR’s plan to elect Dr Wan Azizah as his replacement.

Malay Mail Online understands that while many PAS leaders feel that Hadi may have triggered the crisis by his open backing of Khalid to remain in office, they now believe Anwar was also partially responsible for prolonging the conflict by playing a “zero-sum” game when he insisted that Hadi accept PKR’s terms.

“You have to give face, some dignity for PAS. Remember the ‘Kajang Move’ was not meant to install Anwar or Dr Wan Azizah as MB, but to replace Khalid. So what is so hard about having two names for the Sultan to decide?

“You cannot play this zero-sum game where it’s one thing or nothing at all, as if the candidate is indispensable,” said the party leader.

The party leader again reminded that Hadi did not “outright” object to Dr Wan Azizah’s candidacy, but wanted PKR to provide another option should the Selangor palace reject the latter’s nomination.

“All this talk about PAS not wanting Dr Wan Azizah because of gender is not true. Do they think the Muslimat (Women) wing will stand for it? Most members or leaders will not stand for it should that be true,” he said.

Yesterday Malay Mail Online reported that Khalid’s expulsion from PKR had forced PAS president Hadi to rethink his support for the embattled Selangor mentri besar as the latter no longer represented PR.

Party insiders close to the president said that although Hadi’s plan to name a second candidate may upset allies in PKR, they believe the decision not to nominate any from PAS may placate partners in PR enough to allow for positive discussion on the matter.

Another party leader said despite the deadlock from last night’s meeting, he is confident that PAS and its allies PKR and the DAP will be able to solve the crisis amicably.

“We remain committed to PR. That is a guarantee. Just give us time, by the 17th (August), InsyAllah we will announce a favourable decision,” he said.

Earlier today the DAP issued an ultimatum to PAS — either the party immediately clarifies if its Selangor assemblymen will side with Umno representatives in supporting Khalid or it will back PKR and the DAP.

The DAP went on to say that a refusal to do so signified an end to PR.

The senior party leader criticised the DAP for issuing the statement, saying it was not helping the situation.

“When you do that, you make it look like you are challenging PAS. Is that really going to help solve anything? But I can understand, they are all trying to placate their constituents.

“But it’s not going to improve the situation,” he said.

Without Khalid, PKR’s share of the 56-seat Selangor state assembly drops to 13 from 14 while allies DAP and PAS have 15 seats each. Umno, the opposition in the state, holds 12.

Observers believe Khalid’s sacking leaves the coalition in a precarious state and will add to worries that snap polls may have to be called to ward off a stalemate.