A Selangor PAS elected representative tonight became the first of the 15 in the party to break ranks and take a stand against Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Hulu Kelang assemblyperson Saari Sungib, however, stressed that the stand he is taking is to “side with Pakatan Rakyat”.

“Two (out of three) Pakatan parties have taken a stand to reject Khalid. I feel that this is a reasonable stand to take and PAS should take the same stand,” Saari told Malaysiakini .

He also urged PAS leaders to swiftly make a decision on the matter and not wait until the central committee meeting on Aug 17, so as to save the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor government.

Saari said the matter must be dealt with on an urgent basis, especially after Khalid’s “brash” move of sacking the six PKR and DAP members on the state executive council.

He said that while the issue of who will succeed Khalid may need further discussion, it was “small matter” compared with Pakatan’s political survival in Selangor.

“Anyone can be the menteri besar, as long as the person is from Pakatan,” he said, adding that PAS leadership was in the loop over Khalid’s sacking and should be able to decide already.

“I would like to remind my colleagues in PAS that we have built this strength from 1998... and we used it to bring fresh air to politics by creating a two-party system.

“So, why do we want to give up this strength? To rebuild this will take another 20 to 30 years . We have gone through it together, so why gamble it away?” Saari asked.

No cooperation with Umno

Asked if most of PAS’ 15 assemblypersons shared his view, Saari admitted that he has not surveyed his colleagues as he had earlier left the matter to the state leadership.

“But there has been a void, no one is taking a stand,” he said.

PKR and DAP have 28 seats in the state legislative assembly, and with Saari agreeing with the two parties’ stand, the balance could tip against Khalid in a likely vote of no confidence.

Saari also vehemently opposed any suggestion that PAS forms a coalition government with the 12 Umno assemblypersons, with Khalid remaining as the menteri besar.

“I don’t support this and I am sure this wouldn’t happen if the leadership truly holds to principles. There is no way PAS can be with BN, which is cruel and corrupt

“I was detained under the Internal Security Act twice. I know what BN’s cruelty means,” he said.

He is also not going against the party directive by taking this stand as PAS, including its syura and ulama councils, at its last muktamar had resolved to strengthen cooperation with Pakatan Rakyat, Saari added.

He added that if PAS decides to break away from Pakatan, it must first call an emergency muktamar to debate it.

Selangor crisis today

12.37pm: PAS man Zuhdi Marzuki urges a a ' unity government ' in Selangor, involving Umno reps

2.19pm: DAP urges PAS to declare if it is joining Umno to support Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as MB

2.28pm: MACC confirms that it is investigating Khalid for corruption

4.25pm: DAP and PKR exco members says they will continue doing their jobs but will avoid MB

5pm: Sources say Anwar Ibrahim failed to convince Hadi Awang to accept Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as new Selangor MB

 

5.24pm: Palace confirms the Selangor sultan declines Wan Azizah's request for an audience

5.37pm: DAP claims that there are attempts to entice Pakatan reps to defect

 

6.40pm: Khalid sacks all six DAP and PKR exco members

8pm: Expert says MB has no power to sack exco

9.57pm : DAP and PKR urges PAS to boycott the exco in solidarity

10.21pm : The six sacked exco members vow to defy the sacking and go to work as usual.

10.30pm : PAS' Hulu Langat assemblyperson Saari Sungib urges PAS to join DAP and PKR against Khalid.