Selangor exco list finalised, or is it?
Malaysiakini.com
Mar 20, 2008
Andrew Ong

The protracted delay over the Selangor state executive councillor (exco) list took a new twist today when newly minted Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim announced that the list had been "finalised". MCPX

Several assemblypersons from DAP however were unable to confirm this when contacted today.

ronnie liuPandamaran state assemblyperson Ronnie Liu for instance, could not confirm nor deny whether negotiations with PKR are still ongoing.

"All I can tell you is that the outcome would be a win-win situation which would be well received by our supporters and voters," said Liu, a first-time elected representative who is almost certain to be in the exco lineup.

PKR is the largest member of the new coalition government with 15 state assembly seats. DAP has 13 while PAS has 6.

Previously, DAP expressed that it would seek four exco and the deputy speaker posts, in proportion with the number of seats the party holds.

Under this formula, PKR would have four exco posts, including the menteri besar post while PAS would have two.

Race factor

According to a New Straits Times report today, this formula is unworkable because PKR intends to allocate two exco positions to non-Muslims.

Should DAP have four exco members, the exco would end up with a non-Muslim majority - a scenario which the is not favoured by the Selangor palace, reported the daily.

Fueling speculations further was a DAP Selangor delegation’s audience with Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah yesterday.

DAP Selangor chief Ean Yong Hian Wah when contacted declined to reveal details of the meeting which involved himself, Liu and Kinrara state assemblyperson Teresa Kok.

Ean Yong declined to reveal any information about the meet but hinted that negotiations with PKR were still ongoing.

"We still think we should get four exco positions," he said.

Asked if such an arrangement would not be accepted by the Sultan due to the racial composition, Ean Yong believes that the final exco list would be the prerogative of the menteri besar.

Teng likely to be dropped

PKR is expected to nominate Lee Kim Sin (Kajang), Dr Xavier Jayakumar (Seri Andalas), Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Seri Setia) Yaakob Sapari (Kota Anggerik) and Haniza Mohd Talha (Taman Medan) for the five posts.

The four DAP names submitted for exco posts includes Ean Yong, Liu, Teresa Kok (Kinrara) and Teng Chang Khim (Sungai Pinang). PAS is believed to have nominated their Selangor chief Dr Hasan Ali (Gombak Setia) and Dr Halimah Ali (Selat Kelang).

Observers believe that DAP is now caught in a bind because the party had a clean sweep of 13 state seats and party supporters would expect an equitable distribution of seats.

Should DAP be given only three exco posts, it would be seen as the second blow to the party since being denied the menteri besar post in Perak despite having overwhelming majority of seats in the Perak coalition government.

Having only three exco posts in Selangor would also deal a blow to Teng who is widely expected to be the sacrificial lamb should negotiations with PKR fall flat.

teng chang khim dapTeng is a hugely popular and influential figure in the party but it is an open secret that he is at odds with the party’s national leaders.

Observers point out that should Teng, who already has experienced three terms in the Selangor state assembly as opposition leader, be dropped from the exco lineup, it would open wide fissures within the party.

Liu, Kok and Ean Yong are aligned to party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng’s camp.

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