KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 — The Selangor mentri besar saga has destroyed much of Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) hard-fought gains in its political struggle since the pact’s inception in 2008, Lim Kit Siang said.
The veteran DAP leader asked his political allies their direction in the simmering crisis, noting that not only has the imbroglio been regressive for PR but for Malaysians in general, particularly those who voted against Barisan Nasional (BN) in the last two federal polls.
“Quo vadis, Pakatan Rakyat?” Lim asked, using the Latin term that translates to “where are you going?” in English.
The DAP adviser also acknowledged Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s claim earlier today that the Selangor government was not a PR one, calling the remark “unbelievable” and “ridiculous”.
He reminded the sacked PKR man that he had himself led the state as a mentri besar endorsed by the federal opposition pact for the past six years.
Lim added that the four PAS state executive councillors that Khalid has claimed are in support of him had also earned their positions after campaigning as a PR member party during the last general election.
“Would the four PAS excos be elected as Selangor state assemblymen in the first place if they had not represented Pakatan Rakyat in the 2013 general elections?” he asked.
The “brutal truth”, Lim added, is that Khalid is relying solely on support from Umno’s 12 assemblymen in the Selangor assembly.
The DAP politician pointed out that only recently, deputy Umno president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had pledged the party’s full backing of the embattled Khalid.
Khalid was sacked over the weekend by PKR over his open defiance of the party leadership’s intention to remove him from the Selangor mentri besar’s post and replace him with party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Khalid said he accepted the decision, despite labelling it illegal, but did not take it as his cue to resign as mentri besar.
Instead, the leader met with the Selangor Sultan and obtained the ruler’s blessings to remain in his post as an independent mentri besar.
Yesterday, the leader moved to sack all those in his executive council from PKR and DAP who he said were not supportive of his leadership, leaving just five remaining exco members — four from PAS and one from PKR, who was abroad at the time of the sacking.
Tomorrow, the Selangor Economic Action Council (MTES) will meet to weigh the necessity of removing PKR and DAP local councillors from office.
Without Khalid, PKR’s share of the 56-seat Selangor state assembly has dropped to 13 from 14 while allies DAP and PAS have 15 seats each. Umno, the opposition in the state, holds 12.
PAS has yet to declare its stand on the issue, only saying its representatives will continue to serve under Khalid until, and unless, the party leadership decides otherwise during its meeting this Sunday.
This is out of respect for the Sultan, they previously said, pointing out that the state ruler had agreed to retain Khalid in the mentri besar seat despite his sacking from PKR.
