WILL WEDNESDAY SEPT 3 THE D-DAY FOR SELANGOR?

When Malaysian billionaire Ananda Krishnan was reported to have been charged with alleged corruption in India, somehow rather - if found guilty, effect of such despicable act would further "burdened" the country's already poor CPI (Transparency International Corruption Index) rankings on corruption.

For this Malaysian tycoon who is rated country's 2nd richest, it's regretful to learn of him being implicated and/or alleged in corruption scandal.

With his current wealth, rise the question - Is there a need for him to expand his business empire with elements of corruption?

However, he's yet to be proven guilty in any court in India, but as I said, should he be convicted (guilty as charged), it would leave a negative perception and would have it's impact to his successes in corporate world.

He has among others, Astro All Asia Networks Plc, Maxis Communications Bhd, South Asia Entertainment Holdings Ltd tagged to his name.

Back to reality. The Selangor MB (chief minister) crisis.

Earlier, I thought Monday (August 25th) was the D-Day  on who would be the Selangor new MB following the return of HRH the Selangor Ruler, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah from his overseas trip on Saturday afternoon (August 23rd). It wasn't one when embattled MB TS Khalid Ibrahim's resignation was deferred by the Sultan.

Since the Selangor Ruler has decreed that each party of the People's Pact alliance (PKR, PAS & DAP) to submit at least two or three alternative names (candidates) for the palace by 3rd of September, would Wednesday be the D-Day on who would be the new Selangor's MB?

Or, would a fresh election be called to resolve the impasse over the new MB's appointment?

The common questions in the mind of majority of Selangor people in particular, and Malaysians in general are -

1. Would the Ruler accept and consent PKR/DAP's singular nomination of PKR party president Wan Azizah?
2. Would the Ruler accept and consent PAS' other (than Wan Azizah) nominees?
3. Would the Ruler decline Wan Azizah?
4. Would the Ruler insist that PKR/DAP submit more than one nomination each?
5. Would the Ruler dissolve the state legislative assembly for a fresh election?

Speculation is rife that should there be a fresh election, not only PKR (seen as the party that triggers the self-inflict crisis), but PR (the Pact) as a whole would be subjected to loosing number of seats or could even stand to lose the state to Barisan Nasional (BN).

People especially Selangorians said, that's the price PKR/PR has got to pay for their "ridiculous" plan, the Kajang Move plan.

Many said, PAS could stand to lose more seats in comparison to it's other allies of PKR and DAP, however, many disagreed and instead predict that it's PKR that would lose most of it's existing seats as people of Selangor are divided over the sacking of their MB and seeing the plan by PKR and/or it's leaders was more to suit party/their leaders' agenda than serving the people's interest.

They said, PR (the Pact) would possibly lose (state) Selangor when they could only secure less than 29 of the 56 seats (29 seats are needed to form a state government).

We have read, the pro-PR analysts had been saying that PR could lose quite significant number of seats but not to the extent of losing the state.

As a matter of fact, Merdeka Center pronounced and contended that the Selangor voters are still behind PR (continued support) in spite of the on-going leadership crisis.

It was reported that their (Merdeka Center) recent survey showed that 57%of Selangor voters would still PR the 2nd chance.

While many pro-PR analyst predict that PAS would suffer the most in the event a fresh polls becomes inevitable, there are the following opinions that may have some weight -

1. Khalid Ibrahim was seen by majority of Selangor voters as being a "clean" and "not-corrupted" MB and he has done considerably "good job" for Selangor including building state's reserve exceeding RM 3 billion - thus, there could possibly considerable protest votes by his supporters.
2. That voters without any political party are more "inclined" and sympathetic to Khalid than PKR/PR and/or their leaders, thus, the logic is - PR would suffer the impact of the voters wrath.
3. That this is a snap-election thus, it's the voters opportunity to "teach" PKR in particular and PR as a whole a lesson. Not to do things to according to their own whims and fancy, and that they would only "return" PR in 14th general elections.
4. PAS had gone through many trying times and in the end they managed to "gain control" of their very own supporters, while PKR's "strength" especially in the urban is made up of DAP supporters.PAS has proven it in state of Kelantan.

I tried to understand what Abdul Aziz Bhari is trying to put across in almost all his articles relating to the Selangor MB crisis.

Abdul Aziz, a law professor who now teaches at Unisel in Selangor. I also acknowledged that he has been bold in putting across his views and being a law professor, there is no surprise that his views and opinion or even translations are more to legal aspects.

But there are some quarters who said that Abdul Aziz now speaks more towards "benefiting" PKR in particular. Thus his so-called "boldness" and "independent-ness" are questionable.

It was reported that the palace was hurt and offended with continuous attacks by some quarters and that,"The palace has been quiet but people keep on making anti-palace remarks," a palace source was repoted as saying.

"Certain lawyers from political parties are hired to interpret things according to what the client wants," the source added.

Some said, Abdul Aziz should be more "independent" with his views and to take into account the Selangor state constitution and palace convention.

It has become an "open-secret" that Wan Azizah may not get the consent of the Sultan to be appointed as the new Selangor MB and at the same time many failed to understand why the insistence of propelling Wan Azizah to the post? People have seen the so-called "unanimous" is not after-all "unanimous" for her to be elevated to the MB post.

The prolonging of the candidate crisis would only hurt Selangor and it's people thus, should a fresh election seen by the Sultan the best way to resolve the crisis, so be it.