Parties find themselves in a quandary trying to form governments

Parties find themselves in a quandary trying to form governments

KUALA LUMPUR: The historic 12th general election has not only thrown up shocking results but also left the political parties in a quandary in trying to form their governments.

The three new coalition governments in Kedah, Perak and Selangor are facing problems over their state line-ups.

Even in Barisan Nasional-held Terengganu, the government has yet to be formed.

The swearing-in ceremony of the new Mentri Besar has been postponed amidst speculation that Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh may be replaced. Party insiders have even named two possible candidates to succeed him.

In Kedah, Mentri Besar and state PAS commissioner Azizan Abdul Razak did not include a DAP representative in the state exco list despite party vice-president Datuk Husam Musa saying otherwise.

Husam had said in Kota Baru on Monday that the Islamist party would offer a state exco post to the DAP in Kedah.

PAS won 16 of the 36 state seats in Kedah and PKR four. The sole DAP assemblyman is Lee Guan Aik, who won in Kota Darulaman.

For Perak, the new coalition government has submitted the names of three candidates to become Mentri Besar ?state DAP chief Ngeh Koo Ham, state PKR treasurer Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and state PAS secretary Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin.

The state Constitution, however, requires the Mentri Besar to be a Malay and a Muslim and Husam reiterated this yesterday, saying the fact that the DAP had won the most state seats was not a consideration.

In Selangor, while the new coalition government has endorsed PKR secretary-general Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as Mentri Besar-designate, there seems to be a tussle for the post of Deputy Mentri Besar.

Sungai Pinang assemblyman Teng Chang Khim is said to be left out of the DAP list for the post. The frontrunners are Ean Yong Hian Wah, Ronnie Liu and Teresa Kok, who had an audience with the Sultan of Selangor yesterday.