The new line-up of PAS’s top brass seen celebrating their victory at the recently concluded 61st muktamar. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, June 10, 2015.
The constitutional expert said the clash between the two partners resulted in the state government not being able to function with consensus and mutual understanding.
“When you (PAS) attack DAP like that, how can you say business is as usual?
“Whether you like it or not, the Westminster system is based on trust and majority. If not, how can a state government be administered?” he told The Malaysian Insider.
Aziz was referring to the DAP bashing statements by PAS leadership during the recently-concluded 61st muktamar in Kuala Selangor, which caused the DAP leadership to say that Pakatan was now dead and awaiting funeral rites.
In observing the situation, namely between PAS and DAP, Aziz said the once-stable Pakatan-ruled Selangor was now gone.
“In Selangor, they have failed to show the image of stability. That is bad for any state government,” he said.
Pakatan has a majority of 43 state seats with DAP having 15, PAS 14, and PKR 13. The opposition Barisan Nasional has 12.
Although PKR had the least seats of the three parties, the menteri besar position was given to the party out of consensus between the three partners.
“Don’t be surprised if a snap state election is called. I don’t think we are sure what is the position of (Mohamed) Azmin Ali as the menteri besar,” Aziz said.
He said the best solution for Selangor is a state election and all parties should leave it to the people to decide.
“To solve the problem immediately, it may be good to hold a state election so the people can decide.
“There will be no need for Selangor to take part in the next general election. It will be like Sarawak,” he said.
According to Aziz, the decision to hold a snap election in the state would depend on the palace and if there was an issue of no confidence in the state government.
He said if that happened, the sultan had the right to call for a state election.
“The palace has the right to play its role. This is not about siding with the palace but judging from the current development, this is what the palace should do,
“I don’t think you can blame the palace should a snap election is called because the palace also has the responsibility to preserve or ensure that the state government is stable,” he said.
As an example, Aziz cited the menteri besar crisis last year which saw the palace demanding that PR submit the names of three candidates, instead of one.
Former PAS central committee member Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad also agreed with Aziz’s view, saying that the sultan has the power to dissolve the state legislative assembly.
“The spirit of the constitution is about stability and the head of state is the sultan. So he has the power to do so.
“If the sultan decides that there is no longer stability in the state government, he has the right to dissolve the assembly,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
Dzulkefly said cracks in PR were clear and now the parties were seen attacking one another.
“Now the cracks are clearer and worse… they are attacking each other. It is discordant (sumbang),” he said.
Dzulkefly said to save the situation and keep PR in Selangor, an effort to seal the cracks immediately was needed.
“What should the state government, especially the menteri besar, do? He has to make sure the ties are mended.
“It must also be convincing to the sultan and the people,” he said.
The PAS and DAP crisis became worse after the muktamar ended on Saturday that saw the "progressive" faction ousted by delegates and the conservatives sweeping up the central leadership positions.
DAP is also openly attacking PAS over hudud or the Islamic penal code which the Islamist party is trying to implement in the east coast state of Kelantan.
- TMI
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