The contest for Selangor's new deputy speaker witnessed allies PAS and DAP locking horns again today.

Prior to this morning's voting process in the state assembly, both PAS and DAP had nominated their respective candidates.

Although PAS' Bangi assemblyperson Dr Mohd Shafie Ngah later won with 28 votes whereas DAP’s Sekinchan rep Ng Suee Lin garnered 14 votes in the secret balloting process.

Shafie was nominated by fellow PAS assemblypersons Iskandar Abdul Samad (Cempaka) and Dr Abdul Rani Othman (Meru).

PAS and DAP both have 15 reps each while PKR has 13 in the 56-member assembly, which also includes independent Khalid Ibrahim.

Possible protest

At a press conference later, Lim said his nomination is a possible protest against PAS over issues involving the party in Selangor, and over PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s absence at Pakatan Leadership Council meetings.

Calling it a “friendly match” between the two parties, Lim said, “This is perhaps a ‘silent protest’ against Selangor PAS on their differences of opinion on the menteri besar crisis.

“This (nomination) had been discussed in Selangor DAP a month ago and a motion was filed at the assembly early this month. We want them (PAS) to know that Pakatan needs to move as a team.”

As for Seri Kembangan assemblyperson who made the nomination, he said he was only following the party directive.

“I am not involved but these are orders from the party. I am just following it,” he said curtly.

BN abstains

Meanwhile, BN's 12 state assemblypersons opted to abstain from casting their votes.

Before the voting process began, state opposition leader Shamsudin Lias told the state assembly that all BN assemblypersons did not want to take part in the process.

"We (BN assemblypersons) do not want to take part in this voting process," said the Sungai Burong assemblyperson.

Speaker Hannah Yeoh said it was up to them to take part in the process or otherwise.

The voting process for a new deputy speaker came after Seri Setia assemblyperson Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad resigned from the post after he was appointed as one of the new state executive council members in Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali’s administration.

This face-off, which came despite an earlier agreement that PAS will get three exco and the deputy speaker posts, is the latest installment in the worsening of ties between PAS and DAP, especially since the Selangor menteri besar crisis.

Recently, both parties also crossed swords over PAS president Abdul Hadi skipping Pakatan leadership council meetings.

Due to their diametrically-opposed ideologies, detractors have often panned the opposition bloc as a brittle entity.

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