PKR will not give up the Selangor menteri besar’s post to another party, especially Barisan Nasional (BN), a top party leader said.

“There is no way PKR is going to hand over the menteri besar (post) to Umno/BN,” the leader told The Malaysian Insight on condition of anonymity.

“It is not going to happen. Please don’t have this kind of dream.

“Selangor is PKR’s flagship state. This is PKR’s strongest base in the country.”

The leader’s comments come after rumours that Selangor Umno treasurer Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz is being lined up as a possible candidate for the menteri besar’s post should Pakatan Harapan (PH) and BN, through their cooperation, retain Selangor in the elections.

Recently, sacked Umno member Khairy Jamaluddin, suggested that Tengku Zafrul be appointed the next Selangor menteri besar should PH and BN clinch the state.

Tengku Zafrul, a Umno Supreme Council member, said he is willing to become the menteri besar if the party and BN top leadership want it.

He, however, remained coy over the possibility of him contesting the Sungai Kandis seat in the polls.

Tengku Zafrul, who lost the battle for the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat to its incumbent, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad of Amanah, was made the investment, trade and industry minister by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim when the cabinet was formed.

Tengku Zafrul is currently a second-term member of the Dewan Negara. His senatorship is set to expire in 2025.

Selangor PKR wants Amirudin to continue

The leader also said Selangor PKR has expressed hope for caretaker Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari to continue to lead the state if PH and BN win the most populous and richest state.

The leader said the decision was reached at a meeting earlier this week.

“Selangor PKR had a meeting earlier this week, and we reaffirmed our support for Amirudin to remain as menteri besar.

“This means, upon victory, we will nominate Amirudin to continue as menteri besar,” the source said.

The source said Amirudin did a great job in keeping the party together and performing well in last year’s general election, despite PKR losing several leaders, following the infamous “Sheraton Move”.

“Many leaders left the party, but he (Amirudin) led Pakatan Harapan to a resounding victory in the general election.

“He also did an outstanding job in winning the Gombak parliamentary seat, which was a tough battle,” the source said, adding that there was no issue for Amirudin to be dropped as the menteri besar.

Amirudin successfully defeated the Gombak incumbent, former PKR deputy president and his former mentor, Mohamed Azmin Ali, who defected to Bersatu.

‘Umno and BN should focus on winning seats’

The PKR leader said Umno and BN should focus on winning the seats they contest in the state polls, instead of looking at naming possible menteri besar candidates.

Citing the general election results, where BN failed to win a single parliamentary seat in Selangor, the leader said Umno/BN faces an uphill task convincing its supporters to vote for the coalition.

“If you look at the general election results, you can see which party is the strongest in Selangor. It is PKR,” said the leader.

“But the ball is now in Umno’s court to prove if it can win the seats it currently has and seats it is contesting. It must deliver.”

The leader also questioned if Umno/BN would be able to deliver their supporters’ votes to parties of the unity government.

“PKR will cooperate and will complement each other (to ensure parties backing the unity government win).

“But will they be able to deliver BN votes for the parties in the unity government?” the leader said.

PH has been in power in Selangor since 2008.

In the 2008 general election, the then PH coalition won 51 of 56 seats, with PKR having 21 seats, DAP (16), Amanah (8) and Bersatu (6).

However, following the Sheraton Move, party members defected, leaving PH with 40 seats. Of them, 19 are held by PKR, DAP (15) and Amanah (6).

Selangor dissolved its legislative assembly on Friday, while Kelantan did so on June 22 and Penang, June 28.

The remaining three states have yet to announce the dissolution dates, but the Terengganu assembly will dissolve automatically on July 1, Negri Sembilan (July 2) and Kedah (July 4).

The dates for the six state polls are yet to be fixed.

All six states must hold their elections by September. – June 25, 2023.