'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]