James Chin of the University of Tasmania said such a move would damage PKR’s image, which already took a hit after its recently-concluded party elections in which Nurul Izzah Anwar ousted Rafizi Ramli as deputy president.
Chin said most Malaysians had short-term memories when it came to such political moves, but the timing of a “Kajang Move 2.0” would be crucial if PKR really were to carry it out.
“If they want to do it, they have to do it very, very soon. And it’s a very dangerous thing because people are still unhappy about the father-daughter thing,” he said, referring to claims of nepotism with Nurul Izzah as deputy to her father and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.
“So on one hand, they would need to do it soon, but on the other hand, if they do it too soon, (the outcome of the PKR elections) would be still fresh in people’s minds, so they may still be angry,” he told FMT.
On Tuesday, Amirudin denied claims he was set to vacate his Sungai Tua seat to allow Tengku Zafrul, who recently quit Umno, to contest in the ensuing by-election on a PKR ticket and then go on to become the next menteri besar.
The PKR vice-president said he did not want to see a repeat of the “Kajang Move” in 2014, which culminated in the late Abdul Khalid Ibrahim resigning as the then Selangor menteri besar.
The “Kajang Move” refers to PKR’s plan in 2014 to trigger a by-election in the Kajang state seat to install Anwar as the next Selangor menteri besar to replace Khalid, who was seen as going against party policies.
The move fizzled out after Anwar’s conviction in his sodomy case was upheld by the Court of Appeal, and eventually led to Azmin Ali being appointed menteri besar.
Apprehension over Tengku Zafrul
Separately, a party leader told FMT that PKR’s rank and file were largely not keen on Tengku Zafrul joining the party due to apprehension as to how he would strengthen PKR, since he lost in the last general election.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the PKR insider said some questioned Tengku Zafrul’s intentions for defecting from Umno, particularly whether it was for personal reasons or because he was not accepted in his former party.
“But if PKR leaders, especially the prime minister, feel that the best decision is for Tengku Zafrul to join the party, then I suppose we will accept him.
“Still, he needs to prove what he can do for the party, not just for himself. If he can do that, it would be easier for members to accept him,” said the leader.
Chin said PKR’s grassroots would naturally be unhappy if Tengku Zafrul were to be nominated by the party to contest in a by-election called especially to allow him an easy passage to being elected.
“The reality is that he’s not a natural-born politician. He doesn’t have that ‘common touch’ with the people, he’s very much an elite politician. Moreover, he will likely be seen as a ‘parachute’ candidate.”
He believed Tengku Zafrul would still be able to win the by-election, especially if Anwar and other top leaders gave their backing, but warned that a small majority would lead to unease within PKR.
“If he wins with a small majority, his critics within PKR will say that they were correct all along, he doesn’t have any grassroots support.”
Cabinet post?
University Sains Malaysia’s Azmil Tayeb believed that Amirudin would not give up the menteri besar’s post easily unless there was a Cabinet post prominent enough, such as Tengku Zafrul’s current trade portfolio.
He said Pakatan Harapan risked being punished by its voters in Selangor if there was a “Kajang Move 2.0”; the coalition must weigh whether Tengku Zafrul is worth that risk.
“There will be a lot more resistance to install him as menteri besar than retaining him as minister. It’s not like there’s a good reason, such as corruption or mismanagement, to replace Amirudin,” he added
Tengku Zafrul, the investment, trade and industry minister, had quit Umno last week and expressed his intention to join PKR. There has been speculation over his fate as minister as his final term as senator expires at the end of the year.
In December last year, there was speculation that Amirudin would be given a ministership while Tengku Zafrul takes over the Selangor menteri besar’s post given that the latter’s senatorship was drawing to an end.