PETALING JAYA – Selangor Pakatan Harapan is believed to have agreed on seat allocations for the 10-member executive council. However, it has raised eyebrows and sparked concerns among the parties within the coalition, notably PKR.
This comes as party sources have disclosed the intended distribution of seats among coalition members.
According to insiders, Barisan Nasional (BN) will be making an entry into the executive council for the first time since 2008, with one seat earmarked for Umno. Amanah is slated to secure two seats, PKR three, and DAP emerging with the most at four seats.
Furthermore, the racial distribution reportedly consists of seven Malays, two Chinese, and one Indian executive councillors. In the previous term, there were six Malays, three Chinese and one Indian in the lineup.
In the recent state elections, DAP won all the 15 seats it contested in Selangor, while PKR won 12 out of 20 seats it contested. Amanah won five out of nine seats it contested while BN’s Umno won two seats out of the 12 it contested.
A closer look into the individual party allocations indicates that all PKR executive council seats are expected to be occupied by Malays. DAP’s allotment, on the other hand, is expected to be more diverse, with one Malay, two Chinese, and an Indian exco.
However, the allocation has sparked discontent, particularly within PKR. A prominent figure, PKR’s second-term Sentosa assemblyman Gunaraj George, who was widely anticipated to secure a position in the executive council, is believed to have been excluded.
This omission has ignited a debate among party members regarding the ethnic community’s representation in the exco, with a growing sentiment that Selangor should ideally have two Indian excos, acknowledging the steadfast support the Indian community has extended to the party and unity government.
The community’s unwavering allegiance through myriad challenges has amplified the discontent, and the recent allocations may worsen the community’s disillusionment.
The perception of insufficient acknowledgement and representation had already caused dwindling support for the unity government among the Indian community in Selangor, and the implications may even reverberate across other states.
A source within PKR lamented the decision, expressing concerns over the political implications of such allocations.
"This will only further erode Indian support for PKR and the unity government. Nine out of the 22 PKR divisions in Selangor are headed by Indians. And yet, there’s no representation in the executive council? This is utterly ridiculous,” said the senior member.
While the controversy unravels, it serves as a stark reminder of the importance of balanced representation and acknowledgment of all communities’ contributions.
“The coalition would benefit from addressing these concerns promptly to ensure stability and maintain trust among its supporters, especially the Indians,” added the source. – The Vibes, August 18, 2023
