If Anwar Ibrahim becomes the menteri besar it will be a major misstep, say analysts.
PETALING JAYA: Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement that he will be contesting the Kajang state seat has left political analysts shaking their heads in disapproval, as they believe that it will only mar the opposition chief’s image as well as chances of becoming a federal leader.
Anwar in a one line remark today said he is not eying the top position in the country’s richest state but Professor Dr James Chin of Sunway Monash University surmised that it could be the only reason for Anwar to contest the state seat.
“But this is a major misstep for Anwar, because what he is signaling is that he is on the same level of (Penang Chief Minister) Lim Guan Eng, which he is not; he is higher.
“Anwar’s plan has always been to take over the federal government and become prime minister. Now the message he is sending to the public is that since he can’t become prime minister, he will settle for Selangor menteri besar,” Chin told FMT.
Chin pointed out that should Anwar secure the post, he would have to deal first-hand with “petty issues” that may seem unbecoming of a federal leader, such as water, rubbish collection, potholes, massage parlours and illegal posters.
The rakyat would also judge Anwar’s performance as a menteri besar and to reflect his leadership abilities at the federal level – which may jeapordise his chances as prime minister if he fails to live up to expectations.
“And Selangorians are an educated, urban lot. If they are unhappy with the services of the state government, they will definitely make their grievances public. This is how Ronnie Liu was brought down,” the political analyst said.
He further stressed that it would be no easy task to juggle as the Selangor MB, the Opposition Leader and the Permatang Pauh MP, as the MB’s position requires hands-on responsibilities.
“But perhaps he thinks becoming Selangor MB is the right move as Selangor, like Penang, is almost guaranteed to remain in Pakatan Rakyat’s hands in the next general election,” said Chin.
“For instance, Lim’s position as Penang Chief Minister is guaranteed, that’s why he can run around. Maybe Anwar has made the same calculations: that no matter what he does, he will survive.”
In a statement yesterday, Professor Dr Agus Yusoff of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia also described it as a wrong move for Anwar.
He pointed out that many see the move as a bid to resolve the Khalid Ibrahim-Azmin Ali spat, and the Pakatan Rakyat partners may not be happy with Anwar gunning for the role of menteri besar.
“Many see Khalid as a man of integrity and free of corruption, even if he is stingy with the state coffers,” said Agus.
He said Anwar was better off focusing on national consensus than creating new political conflicts.
“[They] should be looking for a win-win situation between the government and the people, and between the Barisan Nasional government and Pakatan. The rakyat want the political conflicts to end with a happy ending.”
Not easy to become MB
But both Agus and Chin said it would not be a smooth road ahead for Anwar if he truly wished to head the state of Selangor.
“First of all, he would still need the support of his partners in Pakatan, and secondly, he would need the Sultan Selangor’s approval. This is because the power to appoint the menteri besar is with the Sultan,” said Agus.
Elaborating on this, Chin told FMT: “First, Khalid has to get the consent of the Sultan of Selangor to step down. If the Sultan refuses to accept, then this would be a problem.
“Whatever (the intricacies) of the Sultan’s relationship with Khalid, Khalid has not disturbed the Sultan. And while the Sultan has expressed his unhappiness over Khalid a few times, the Sultan has never asked or demanded that he be replaced.”
Whatever card Anwar was holding, Chin said, must be very strong to override the Sultan’s possible objections to the former becoming menteri besar.
He also added that it was up to the Sultan’s discretion to end the tradition of appointing only Selangor-borns to become the menteri besar – an unwritten rule in the state that a local newspaper speculated would disqualify Anwar for the top post in the state.
Selangor MB is small potatoes for Anwar
Meanwhile, Dr Lim Teck Ghee, the director of the Centre for Policy of Initiatives was reluctant to believe Anwar would make the mistake of going for the menteri besar post.
“The menteri besar post is actually small potatoes for Anwar, I don’t see how he, who is gunning for the premiership which he has been fixated on for years, would settle for something like this, especially towards the end of his critical career.”
Lim said it was more likely that Anwar was contesting the Kajang seat to bring unity into PKR and Pakatan in Selangor, which has been fraught with tension due to the spat between Khalid and Azmin.
“My reading of Anwar’s move to contest in Kajang is to ensure that Pakatan and PKR’s position in Selangor remains,” he told FMT.
He said Pakatan’s position in Selangor was currently precarious as they do not hold a big majority, so adding Anwar to the state assembly may help the situation.
“It may also be seen as an affirmation of Khalid Ibrahim’s leadership – to quell any concerns that there is any rivalry between Khalid and Anwar,” said the political analyst.
“So this move will bring unity to the fold and bring confidence to Khalid’s position.”
Yesterday, the Kajang PKR assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh announced he was resigning his position for the “common interest” of the party, sparking speculation that it was to pave way for Anwar to take over his position as state assemblyman and position himself as the new menteri besar.
By Anisah Shukry
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