Will mentri besar jinx strike Azmin too?

From strength to strength: Azmin giving a speech during the PKR congress in November last year at the Ideal Convention Centre in Shah Alam. He has become increasingly powerful within the party.

PETALING JAYA: The Selangor Mentri Besar’s position is said to be cursed. Almost everyone who helmed the state’s hot seat has had to face early ends to their tenures with some having to leave office over scandals or in disgrace.

The state’s 14th mentri besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had to go after PKR sacked him from the party for reasons still unclear to many.

Now, it may appear that Datuk Seri Azmin Ali could be staring at the same fate after some of his PKR comrades took allegations of sex and money in his administration to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

Is this an excuse to roll Azmin out and replace him with someone else from the party?

Apparently yes, say sources close to PKR, adding that there is a general fear that Azmin is slowly taking control of the party.

The PKR deputy president has consolidated his position within the party with a good 70% of the PKR members and leaders standing behind him.

“Azmin has grown very powerful now and it will not come as a surprise if he takes over the presidency from Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail at the next party polls,” said a party source.

He has also mended his once shaky relationship with DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and in spite of the failed negotiations for the Sungai Besar state seat in the upcoming by-elections, the PAS leaders respect him for not censuring them for supporting Khalid during the 2014 Selangor mentri besar crisis.

Many of those who were seen as party adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Dr Wan Azizah loyalists have now joined Camp Azmin.

If in the past, PKR was all about Anwar, his release from prison as well as his eventual “installation” as prime minister, things are no longer the same.

Many PKR members and leaders believe the party can be destined for greater heights instead of merely being a tool for the Anwar Ibrahim agenda.

They look to Azmin as the leader to take them towards that direction in the form of a strong federal Opposition or as a part of a Unity Government.

“This is very disturbing for those who are still stuck in the old PKR agenda and loyal to Anwar and Dr Wan Azizah,” added the source.

Azmin has also been subtly coming out of Anwar’s shadows and his recent reconciliation with his original mentor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad has further added to their concerns.

So, said the source, his detractors are trying to knock Azmin down and cut him out with allegations of corrupt practices in his administration. But the real question should be whether it is Azmin who would be the one to do the lopping when things come to a head.

Even if he doesn’t axe the detractors, those from his camp, who make up the majority in the party supreme council will see to it, revealed the source.

“Rafizi’s days as party secretary-general may be numbered. Be assured that he will be thoroughly roasted in the upcoming supreme council meeting,” said the source.

So, far Azmin has been very quiet. But he may just have activated his stealth mode to go from prey to predator.