'Selangor 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 assemblypersons, 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 votebanks.

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. -Mkini