PKR and DAP meet to discuss position of Selangor govt

SHAH ALAM: After weeks of confusing statements from both parties, PKR and DAP finally met to discuss the position of the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat government.

However, nothing was resolved at the meeting held at Mentri Besar Azmin Ali’s office yesterday.

Speaking to reporters after the 30-minute meeting, Selangor DAP chief Tony Pua said they had fruitful discussions on the status of the state government and the current crisis.

Azmin, when met later, downplayed the meeting’s importance, calling it “just a normal meeting”.

“It was just a normal meeting. I have had regular meetings with other leaders too,” said Azmin.

Azmin, who is PKR deputy president, was quick to shoot down suggestions that that there was a crisis in Selangor.

“There is no crisis in Selangor. The state is stable and strong and we are concentrating on developing Selangor based on the policies that have been agreed on,” he said.

Pua said both parties would meet again after Hari Raya Aidilfitri for further discussions.

Asked if the meeting touched on the possibility of forming a new coalition to replace the state Pakatan government, which the national leadership had declared no longer exists, Pua refused to give further details.

However, a DAP source said the party’s representatives at the meeting had clearly stated their stand to Azmin that to them, Pakatan had ceased to exist.

“So, we told him that there has to be a new agreement between PKR, DAP and PAS to work as a coalition,” he said.

He said there was clearly a problem when Azmin, PKR and PAS were insisting that Pakatan still existed.

“Clearly, a decision has to be made whether it is a Pakatan or a coalition government that we have in Selangor,” he said.

The Selangor Pakatan government status came under question after DAP leaders said that Pakatan had ceased to exist following the party’s quarrel with PAS over the implementation of hudud in Kelantan.

The situation worsened after PAS Ulama Council passed a resolution in its recent muktamar for the party to sever ties with DAP.

A PKR insider said Azmin had told DAP representatives that there was no change in the state government’s status.

“The mentri besar also told them that the matter can only be discussed after the fasting month,” said the source.

He added that PKR representatives at the meeting felt that DAP was being demanding and wanted its way in “dealing” with PAS.

“But at the end of the day, Azmin will not forsake any party and will only do what is right for everyone,” he said.

Besides Pua, DAP was represented by its Selangor leaders Gobind Singh Deo, Hannah Yeoh, Datuk Teng Chang Khim and Ean Yong Hian Wah.

Besides Azmin, PKR was represented by Zuraida Kamaruddin, N. Surendran, Dr Xavier Jayakumar and Hee Loy Sian.

In an unrelated development, Azmin said there would be no water rationing in Selangor.

He said measures were being taken to ensure that consumers had sufficient supply.

“Syabas has been instructed to build water tanks in areas prone to water disruption,” he said.