A FIGHT PKR CANNOT WIN SAYS ABIM

On the Selangor Menteri Besar Crisis, the meeting questioned the way that Anwar Ibrahim handled this matter. The meeting also felt that His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor would have definitely sought expert legal advice in making his decision.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Last night, PKR and ABIM held a secret meeting in Kajang to discuss two issues: the Pengkalan Kubor by-election and the Selangor Menteri Besar Crisis.

According to the minutes of the meeting, which were sent to me, Anwar Ibrahim could not attend that meeting because he was still in Turkey. Azmin Ali, on the other hand, was not invited to attend the meeting for reasons that were not explained. Whereas Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail cancelled at the eleventh hour with no reason given (the minutes mentioned sebab uzur).

Uzur is the normal excuse given when Malays do not wish to attend any event but do not really want to explain why. Hence uzur could mean anything and in English that would be like ‘unavoidable circumstances’.

Anyway, the meeting was of the opinion that PKR would not stand a chance if the party contested the Pengkalan Kubor by-election. They would get wiped out and may even lose their deposit. Hence the statement today by PKR that it will make way for PAS (see the news report below).

On the Selangor Menteri Besar Crisis, the meeting questioned the way that Anwar Ibrahim handled this matter. The meeting also felt that His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor would have definitely sought expert legal advice in making his decision.

In short, the meeting felt that the Sultan knows what he is doing but Anwar probably does not.

The meeting felt that talk about a PAS candidate being appointed the new Selangor MB is probably just a wayang (drama) but the meeting did not want to discuss this matter further without the presence of Anwar or Dr Wan Azizah.

The meeting also did not discount the possibility that Khalid Ibrahim would remain the Menteri Besar because of the unresolved issue of his successor.

Well, that is a nutshell is the gist of last night’s secret meeting that PKR and ABIM held without the presence of Anwar, Azmin and Dr Wan Azizah. I just thought I would let you know and reveal why, today, PKR announced it is giving way to PAS to contest the Pengkalan Kubor by-election.

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Pengkalan Kubor by-election: PKR makes way for PAS to contest

(The Star) – PKR will make way for PAS to contest the Sept 25 Pengkalan Kubor by-election in Kelantan.

The state seat has been contested by PKR in the last two general elections, which the party lost both to Barisan Nasional.

President Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the decision was made to strengthen the understanding between Pakatan Rakyat parties.

“Following the views expressed of me by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, I stressed the importance of cooperation and togetherness within Pakatan.

“I believe we must go back to focusing on the wishes of the people, and pool our resources in the fight against Umno and Barisan Nasional,” she said in a statement on Tuesday.

Dr Wan Azizah said Pakatan could only battle Barisan effectively with more tolerance, understanding, and with an open heart among its leaders.

The Pengkalan Kubor state seat became vacant following the death of Barisan assemblyman, Datuk Noor Zahidi Omar, due to cancer last month.

Noor Zahidi beat PKR’s Saharun Ibrahim and independent candidate Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary by a 1,736 vote majority during GE13.

PAS is said to be eyeing the seat it last won in 1999 but lost in 2004, before handing it to PKR.

The Pengkalan Kubor by-election will be held on Sept 25, with nomination day this Saturday.