The issue of the alleged coup against Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim by a group of PKR MPs is likely to be the hot topic at the party retreat in Shah Alam this weekend.

However, said vice-president R Sivarasa, it will only be debated in relation to the party's strategy for the next general election.

"Someone may bring this up and we will have to resolve it, but it will have to be in the framework of how we will win the next election," he said, adding however that the ‘15 MPs' allegation is a "figment of someone's imagination ".

tian chua media police suit pc 090307 latheefa koya According to party information chief Latheefa Koya ( right ), one of the two items on the agenda is the Selangor administration , with special focus on finding a way for the party to channel more input into state policy.

She added that the likely outcome of the retreat, where five working papers will be presented, is a committee which will play an advisory role to the state exco in policy-making.

This would be akin to that practised by the PAS states of Kelantan and Kedah, where state excos are influenced heavily by party direction.

"PAS has been in Kelantan for about 20 years now, so they practise a very effective system, and we have to learn from this," said Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff.

Other party sources also indicate that the party will push for a new exco line up, opening up space for more PKR members to take on state roles.

More resources for PKR reps

Another expected demand is for resources with party elected representatives feeling that Selangor should pick up the slack nationwide.

"An elected representative can only serve his or her constituency if there is an effective support system, and this is the state's responsibility, and should be seen as a national agenda," said Yusmadi.

loh gwo burne interview 270308 02 He added that separating state and party is a flawed approach as both need to be interconnected and strong in managing society's affairs.

Besides that, said Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne ( left ), the party is also gunning for a more active role in the direction of the state through involvement in government-linked companies (GLC).

"For the past two years, PKR MPs, state assemblypersons and party members have waited to contribute but we cannot do anything because the state does want not to use us.

"(But) GLC directors are not paid, and are given allowances based on performance, so I find it hard to see how one can be considered corrupt here," he said.

Power-sharing model in question

While Khalid has tried to stay on the straight and narrow, recent developments may push him to concede more to his detractors, undermining his stature as state leader.

This raises questions about the power-sharing model in the Selangor government, a joint-venture between PKR and the DAP, which has almost an equal number of elected representatives in the state.

And while party vice-president Azmin Ali denies that he is the ringleader in the alleged 15MPs coup, pundits are reading it as a sign of a further deterioration in his relationship with Khalid, hurting the party's image.

Party de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim may also feel the brunt of the alleged infighting, with observers reading it as a flaw in his leadership.

But contrary to public opinion, Yusmadi feels the party is "not falling apart", but rather having "a management issue".

"It is unreasonable to expect a new organisation (like PKR) to not have such issues. My message to the public is to bear with us and continue to support us because these issues can be resolved," he said.