As PKR fails to pick sides, stalemate possible in ‘Pakatan 2.0’ formation
(MMO) – With PKR struggling to choose an alliance in the fallout between DAP and PAS, leaders keen on starting a new opposition coalition without the Islamist party now fear their plans may not materialise.
Conflicting remarks issued by PKR leaders since the crisis started earlier this month clearly show the party is now caught between a rock and a hard place ― severing ties with PAS could see PKR lose its rule in Selangor but staying friendly with the Islamist party would not bode well with its DAP allies.
“PKR’s inability to decide on choosing between DAP and PAS is making any efforts to move on difficult.
“From their remarks, it seems like they can’t make the hard choice of cutting ties with PAS, and this has upset plans to form a new party to replace PAS,” a PR source told Malay Mail Online.
On Tuesday, PKR’s de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed news that the opposition front known as Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is currently going through a reorganisation and that the changes will involve the inclusion of “new” forces.
With no further details offered, however, Anwar’s remarks did little to explain the party’s strategy to resolve the impasse in Selangor.
His wife, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and her deputy Azmin Ali had previously insisted that despite the split between PAS and DAP, the spirit of PR lives on although it no longer functions formally.
Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, a member of PAS’ DAP-friendly progressive faction said that PKR is caught in a difficult position as they need both the support of DAP and PKR if they wanted to keep control of the Selangor government.
“PKR is supporting PAS in Kelantan, and DAP in Penang in the hopes that they get the support they need in Selangor.
“What choice do they have? They are caught in between,” Khalid told Malay Mail Online.
