KUALA LUMPUR: PKR deputy president Azmin Ali has called on leaders and members of the party to remain calm in facing the Selangor political crisis that is now becoming increasingly critical.

The Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman, however, said he was confident that the situation would be resolved.

“I urge all PKR leaders and members to remain calm and not resort to doing anything that will make the situation worse.

“I admit that we are now facing a little difficulty but I am confident, based on experience and the spirit of cooperation in the party and in Pakatan Rakyat, the PKR leadership will be able to overcome the current situation,” he said in a statement.

PKR had previously been blamed by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who said that the MB crisis in Selangor was caused by PKR and PAS, and had rejected Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s candidacy as menteri besar.

“PKR is committed to Pakatan, the unity must be strengthened. I hope the leadership and members do not react but remain polite and calm in all situations,” he said.

Azmin had previously been named the second candidate besides Dr Wan Azizah by PAS to be appointed Selangor menteri besar to replace Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Azmin, however, rejected the offer to make way for Dr Wan Azizah, who is the wife of opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Meanwhile, the leaders of the three youth wings of Pakatan came together yesterday to call for the top leadership to resolve the protracted Selangor menteri besar impasse, which has threatened to tear the opposition coalition apart.

In a joint statement signed by PAS Youth chief Suhaizan Kaiat, PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and DAP Socialist Youth chief Teo Kok Seong, they urged Pakatan leaders to settle the crisis immediately.

“We will have separate meetings with Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, the PAS president, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the PKR de facto leader, and Lim Kit Siang, the DAP parliament chief, soon to convey the hopes of the Pakatan and Malaysian youths,” they said. — The Malaysian Insider


This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on September 9, 2014.