Pakatan in a crisis, Umno about to dislodge Najib?

The Selangor crisis over the replacement chief minister in place of the outgoing Khalid Ibrahim has invariably given way to a bigger crisis that may witness the loose coalition of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) consisting of PKR, DAP and Parti PAS go their separate ways.

Is this what is going to happen? Is Pakatan on the verge of a break-up? Or would this crisis just blow over and actually make the tripartite coalition more unified and stronger?

Much will depend on the wildcard political individual and leader of Parti PAS, Hadi Awang, as the president who has basically triggered off this crisis within Pakatan, by going against the wishes of the Pakatan leadership, by naming his own three choices for the post of chief minister of Selangor.

This was the flashpoint and also a real test of the strength and unity of Pakatan. Hadi, unwittingly, set the tone to put to test how the Pakatan leadership will fare under this new scenario given that Khalid Ibrahim caused the ball to start rolling.

It waits to be seen in the coming days what will become of fast-rising Pakatan and how they will fare and come out of what political analysts consider to be their sternest test of survival against their long-standing and established counter weight, Barisan Nasional (BN).

Will Pakatan disintegrate?

Unlikely as it may seem to most Malaysians, there is every possibility that the three political parties may go their separate ways. While PKR and DAP are still well intact and banded together, it is really the “loose cannon” PAS that is being watched with earnest as they appear to be firing blanks in all directions.

Actually, the frustrations of Parti PAS is to be commiserated with as they have been grossly misunderstood by its coalition partners of PKR and DAP and also by a growing number of Malaysians all over the country.

Certain policies voiced by Parti PAS, especially their much-maligned “hudud” initiative, have caused the party to be distanced by many Malaysians and to be viewed with greater distrust and suspicion and this is why it doesn’t pay for them to be seen championing Islamic supremacy alone.

This is why if the opposition coalition of Pakatan is to remain in power and grow more powerful, it is incumbent upon its leaders to set the tone and quickly iron out and addresses all internal issues that are keeping the three factions at loggerheads.

In reality, it is really Parti PAS that needs to set a more refined tone as it appears that PKR and DAP are great chums and have a fast and firm bond between them. This leaves Parti PAS really struggling to pull their weight to measure up with the other two political parties.

Pakatan needs to get going

If Pakatan does not wish to witness its crack-up, it is imperative that they get going to secure and consolidate their now-fractured base of power. They need to firm up and close ranks and pull weight together.

Anwar Ibrahim, as paramount leader of Pakatan, has to shore up and beef up his defenses by getting the three political parties to speak in unison and with one voice. It is important for Pakatan to survive this crisis by agreeing on all their differences, by coming to terms and getting going once again.

Pakatan can only survive this crisis if they unite and tide over differences.

While much is at stake, ironing their grievances and differences is now crucial and more important because Pakatan has shaped up well, since its inception, to become a major threat to BN and there looms the likelihood that they stand to wrest power in the next general elections from BN.

Crucial weeks ahead

The next few weeks will be crucial for Pakatan as it will emerge if they splinter or if they survive this crisis and if they will even continue to hold power in the golden state of Selangor as snap polls might witness an alliance formed between Parti PAS and BN-Umno for a unity government.

Anwar, PKR and DAP are playing their cards close to their chest. But it is unsure and uncertain what really Hadi Awang and the Parti PAS leadership have in mind as they themselves seem to be in a state of disarray.

Watching what is coming from the Parti PAS camp will be important in deciding and determining what is to transpire and evolve in the coming weeks. By all accounts, there is a chance that the Parti PAS leadership might relent and give in to Anwar, PKR and DAP by giving support to Wan Azizah’s candidacy.

If they do so, all will be well and healing within the coalition will take place. If not, it will be left to His Royal Highness, the Sultan of Selangor, to state his wishes and aspirations. This is why the glare of attention is focused now also on developments in the Selangor palace.

By all accounts, what evolves finally will be what everyone in Selangor will have to live by and abide by as the most important thing is to bring this saga to closure that life can go on as usual in the state of Selangor.

Christopher Fernandez