PETALING JAYA - Although Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders have yet to
come clean on the political manoeuvres in Selangor, indications are that
Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim is losing his grip on power
and the state Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is getting ready for the
post-Khalid era.
The front-runners to replace Khalid are PKR chief Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her deputy Azmin Ali, in that order, Oriental Daily News reported today.
Azmin, who has long been eying the post, is leading an anti-Khalid force but has so far not been able to gain the thumbs-up from DAP and PAS.
The PKR leader who can command the support of all three PR components is the party's de facto chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
But with the "Kajang Move" falling through, the party has no choice but to arrange for his wife Wan Azizah as his proxy.
The plan to oust Khalid started at the beginning of the year when PKR orchestrated the Kajang state by-election to pave the way for Anwar to be elected an assemblyman and replace Khalid as mentri besar.
However, the appeals court sentenced Anwar to five years' jail, overturning his earlier acquittal on a sodomy charge prior to nomination, forcing PKR to look for an alternative candidate for the by-election at the 11th hour.
The fact that Wan Azizah was chosen was an indication that she had been lined up for the mentri besar job.
Khalid Ibrahim
However, PKR will face a number of hurdles in its bid to make Wan Azizah the mentri besar, and first among them is convincing Khalid to step down.
It is understood that the "Kajang Move" had received Khalid's nod because his replacement then was to be Anwar.
Now with Wan Azizah as the likely candidate, Khalid has reasons not to budge.
This is the reason he had held onto power despite months of speculation that he would be replaced.
According to the report, Khalid is expected to step down after Hari Raya but a smooth passing of the baton will hinge on PKR getting the full support of PAS and DAP on the choice of candidate. -sundaily
The front-runners to replace Khalid are PKR chief Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her deputy Azmin Ali, in that order, Oriental Daily News reported today.
Azmin, who has long been eying the post, is leading an anti-Khalid force but has so far not been able to gain the thumbs-up from DAP and PAS.
The PKR leader who can command the support of all three PR components is the party's de facto chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
But with the "Kajang Move" falling through, the party has no choice but to arrange for his wife Wan Azizah as his proxy.
The plan to oust Khalid started at the beginning of the year when PKR orchestrated the Kajang state by-election to pave the way for Anwar to be elected an assemblyman and replace Khalid as mentri besar.
However, the appeals court sentenced Anwar to five years' jail, overturning his earlier acquittal on a sodomy charge prior to nomination, forcing PKR to look for an alternative candidate for the by-election at the 11th hour.
The fact that Wan Azizah was chosen was an indication that she had been lined up for the mentri besar job.
Khalid Ibrahim
However, PKR will face a number of hurdles in its bid to make Wan Azizah the mentri besar, and first among them is convincing Khalid to step down.
It is understood that the "Kajang Move" had received Khalid's nod because his replacement then was to be Anwar.
Now with Wan Azizah as the likely candidate, Khalid has reasons not to budge.
This is the reason he had held onto power despite months of speculation that he would be replaced.
According to the report, Khalid is expected to step down after Hari Raya but a smooth passing of the baton will hinge on PKR getting the full support of PAS and DAP on the choice of candidate. -sundaily