Merdeka Center: Azmin is main draw in Selangor, not Dr M

KLANG: The Pakatan Harapan main draw in Selangor is PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali (pic), not Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said Merdeka Center programme director Ibrahim Suffian.

This is despite Pakatan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad playing a big role in getting support from voters in many parts of the country, he said.

On speculation that Azmin would not get Pakatan’s endorsement to lead the state after the polls, Ibrahim described this as “loose talk” by the mentri besar’s rivals.

“When the state gets good results, he will likely be the mentri besar,” Ibrahim said when contacted.

Barisan Nasional and Pakatan have yet to name their candidate for the MB post.

State Barisan and Umno chief Tan Sri Noh Omar said the name would only be revealed after the polls.

In PKR, there are several choices other than Azmin but Ijok assemblyman Dr Idris Ahmad, who is aligned to PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s camp, has been mentioned as a possible candidate within party circles.

“Dr Idris does not have the same level of charisma or ability compared to Azmin.

“PKR will make its biggest mistake ever if it bypasses Azmin and installs Dr Idris as the new MB,” claimed a PKR insider.

Barisan has several suitable candidates including Noh’s deputy Datuk Mat Nadzari Ahmad Dahalan, state Umno secretary Datuk Johan Aziz and Permatang assemblyman Datuk Sulaiman Razak.

However, a source said the likely candidate was Sungai Burong assemblyman Datuk Shamsudin Lias.

Shamsudin, a former district officer, is well liked and respected not only among Umno members but also by Pakatan.

The 65yearold had submitted in writing that he did not want to contest in the elections but was told that his services were needed.

“This can be interpreted as Shamsudin being selected as the MB if Barisan forms the state government,” said the source.

Universiti Sains Malaysia political analyst Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said it was important for Pakatan and Barisan to name their mentri besar candidates as early as possible.

“Kedah Barisan, for instance, announced its mentri besar candidate a day before polling in 2013 and that helped to swing votes in their favour,” said Dr Sivamurugan.

In 2013, Barisan wrested Kedah from the then Pakatan Rakyat, which won the state in the 2008 polls.

Naming the mentri besar will also give voters a clearer picture of what will be in store for the state after the polls, said Dr Sivamurugan.