Though some quarters in PAS have openly supported Khalid Ibrahim clinging on the Selangor MB post despite being fired by PKR, several others have risen to defend the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

PAS party deputy president, Mat Sabu said today that it is not prudent to stand by Khalid explaining that the party has much to lose if it were to consider leaving Pakatan Rakyat, which have two out of its three components asking for Khalid’s removal, on grounds of mismanagement and suspicious lawsuit settlements.

“How can we support Khalid when he is no longer in PKR?

“He is an Independent Menteri Besar now. There is no more issue for us to support Khalid,” he added that UMNO, who have pledged their Selangor State Assemblymen support for Khalid were merely “exploiting the situation”.

Contrary to PAS President Hadi Awang’s clear nod at the position of the denounced MB, several other PAS leaders have voiced dissatisfaction at the turmoil that would inevitably lead to the break up of Pakatan, and signs showing a possible formation of a “unity government” or “national consensus” which would see PAS join forces with longtime political nemesis UMNO – Barisan Nasional.

PAS central executive committee member Mohamed Hanipa Maidin, had said in a forum on the MB crisis that he would push for the same decision PKR and DAP has made in the coming PAS meeting which, after two postponements from its original date on August 10, would convene on Sunday, August 17.

PAS does not have to adhere to the decision of its president, he said, disagreeing with the stand taken by Hadi Awang.

Another PAS leader who has urged his party to stay on with Pakatan Rakyat and their decision to replace Khalid is the Hulu Kelang Assemblyperson Saari Sungib who said,

“Two (out of three) Pakatan parties have taken a stand to reject Khalid. I feel that this is a reasonable stand to take and PAS should take the same stand.”

In view of the increase in pace in the Selangor MB crisis which includes Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s announcement that the 12 UMNO Selangor State Assemblymen would give their “unconditional support” to the party-less MB, and Khalid’s move to sack DAP and PKR state exco’s, Saari had urged PAS to hasten proceedings to come up with a swift resolution regarding its stand on the MB, instead of waiting for August 17. He had also criticized the MB for the Exco’s expulsions which he called “brash”.

Yesterday, another PAS central committee member, Mujahid Yusof Rawa said that PKR’s did not need a reason to demand for its MB to step down. The party has every right to do so, he said, adding that the spirit and idealism of Pakatan should not be abandoned for the sake of one person. -TheRocket