Going for Selangor MB's jugular could backfire on Anwar, warn analysts

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari might be safe for now but it does not mean that the daggers have been sheathed.

PKR factionalism would continue to plague Amirudin, who is aligned to deputy president Azmin Ali, and any political missteps could turn DAP - who have decided to remain neutral for now - against him.

While those who seek to depose the menteri besar might do so in PKR president Anwar Ibrahim's name, political analysts, however, believe such a move could backfire on the prime minister-in-waiting.

Independent analyst Jeniri Amir said a coup in Selangor would have nationwide ramifications.

"Selangor is just the tip of the iceberg...

“Azmin and his faction will not stay quiet (if Amirudin is removed). They will give an equally strong response and this could cause a bigger rift in PKR.

"Azmin may even quit the party and this would, of course, impact Pakatan Harapan," he told Malaysiakini.

University of Tasmania's Asia Institute director James Chin, meanwhile, said if Anwar wanted to capture Selangor, he must also deal with DAP and the state palace.

Anwar's faction had attempted to engineer a similar coup in Selangor, which became known as the “Kajang Move”.

In 2014, Anwar tried to depose the then menteri besar Khalid Ibrahim to allegedly install himself in the post.

The move was thwarted when the Court of Appeal convicted him for sodomy, forcing Anwar to tweak the plan to make his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail menteri besar instead.

However, Anwar was outmanoeuvred and Azmin ultimately became menteri besar.

Anwar needs complete control of PKR for smooth transition

The stakes now, however, are different than in 2014 when PKR and Selangor were part of the opposition.

Chin said a tussle for Selangor at this point would impact Anwar's planned ascension to prime minister.

"PKR can't force Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad (to step down) if they are divided with Azmin's camp controlling Selangor.

"So Anwar must take complete control of PKR if he wants a smooth transition," he said.

Jeniri, however, is of the opinion that Mahathir would intervene and try to mitigate the situation to avoid instability in the Harapan government.

Any possible large-scale repercussions from removing Amirudin, however, appears to be lost on the conspirators.

"We can do this now because we are part of the federal government," said a PKR source, who tried to convince Malaysiakini that a coup was imminent.

The source claimed there are sufficient statutory declarations to show that Amirudin has lost the confidence of the state assembly.

However, Malaysiakini reported earlier that the menteri besar received a lifeline after a potential political storm over a bill permitting the unilateral conversion of minors to Islam subsided, leading DAP to decide not to back the coup. - Mkini