'S'gor MB post may fall to DAP in three-cornered fights'.
  
 A senior academician today warned that a failure by Pakatan Harapan in 
Selangor to ensure straight fights against Barisan Nasional may result 
in the menteri besar's post falling into DAP’s hands.
 Sinar 
Harian quoted Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) senior lecturer Md Shukri 
Shuib as saying that he believes the DAP will take over the menteri 
besar’s post as it has indicated interests to field Malay candidates 
that could lead to potential three-cornered fights.
 “The 
formation of Pakatan Harapan including in Selangor’s context will make 
it easier for the DAP to get the menteri besar’s post when the party’s 
Malay candidates have won (in 14th general election).
 “Actually, 
DAP may be able to replace Azmin Ali as menteri besar because in this 
case, PKR and Amanah are clearly playing the role of ‘strategic 
assistants’ to expand DAP’s influence and political power,” Shukri 
reportedly told Sinar Harian.
 At the same time, Shukri also said 
PAS’ refusal to agree to the straight-fight principle could also lead to
 PKR losing even more seats in Selangor, paving the way for DAP to form a
 majority in the 56-seat state legislative assembly.
 “PKR has 
predicted the difficulties it would face in Selangor come GE14 because 
of complexities to break down the composition of seats in the state 
according to racial majority (of voters) and party.
 “Furthermore,
 the political strategy in Selangor would require significant 
participation of voters from all races, regardless of whether it is an 
urban or rural seat,” he said.
 In GE13, DAP had achieved a clean 
sweep of all 15 state seats it had contested for in Selangor, together 
with PAS and PKR as the then Pakatan Rakyat coalition.
 Following 
Pakatan Rakyat’s dissolution, the Pakatan Harapan Selangor 
state-government now also comprises 13 PKR assemblypersons and two from 
Amanah.
 Islamist party PAS is left with 13 assembly persons, 
together with Umno that makes up the Selangor opposition bench with 12 
representatives.
 ‘Azmin wants to maintain straight fight’
Shukri also reportedly said it was clear that Azmin would be keen to 
maintain a straight fight because of his ability to gauge that 
sentiments of supporters in Selangor are now divided between those who 
are pro-Pas and pro-Harapan.
“This scenario clearly paints a 
picture of Azmin and PKR in a dilemma and under pressure over 
distribution of influence between PKR, DAP and Amanah (on the one hand),
 and with PAS on the other.
“It is as if there are two groups within the (federal) opposition pact and PKR seems to be (stuck) in the middle,” he said.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had last month indicated that the 
party would only contest in PAS-held seats in Selangor where its 
potential candidates can make a breakthrough in the Malay-rural 
vote banks.
 This was in response to PAS Dewan ulama chief Mahfodz 
Mohamed's earlier declaration that the Islamist party is prepared to 
field more candidates in GE14, including against DAP and Amanah.
[Source :Malaysiakini. 02/02/16]