As the fastest rising star in the Umno nebula back then, it was a foregone conclusion that Anwar Ibrahim would become the chief executive of the nation.

However, his ambition hit a brick wall in 1998.

Since then, Anwar (left in picture) reinvented himself, rose up the ranks to become opposition leader and is once again training his crosshairs on the prime minister's post.

Detractors, like his arch nemesis Dr Mahathir Mohamad, claim that Anwar is obsessed with becoming prime minister and would leave no stone unturned to achieve it.

So it is an indigestible notion that Anwar would settle for something less, such as becoming Selangor menteri besar, as suggested in a news report.

The scenario tickled political analyst James Chin. “It is just not possible,” Chin said, dismissing the matter with a laugh.

The Monash University lecturer stressed that Anwar is a federal leader and therefore would not accept a state-level position.

“If he becomes the MB, he will be on the same level as (DAP secretary-general) Lim Guan Eng (below), who is the Penang chief minister. That is not possible,” he added.

Quoting party insiders, The Star Online reported that Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim would announce his resignation on Wednesday.

The MCA-owned daily added that a by-election would be held for a state seat in Selangor in order to pave the way for Anwar to take over the post.

The PKR supremo has since denied this and told reporters that Khalid would continue as MB. Subsequently, Khalid’s aide also refuted the report.

Factionalism in PKR

Meanwhile, a PKR source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said factionalism in the party was the catalyst for the emergence of such unwarranted speculations.

“It is an open secret that PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and Khalid are not on the same page. And this is the source of all problems,” the source said.

Furthermore, he said, even Anwar was peeved with Khalid for making important decisions with regard to the state administration without consulting the party leadership.

Among others is the controversy surrounding the Jais seizure of copies of the Bible, water issues and the increase of fees for business licences.

Describing The Star report as a new speculation, a senior Selangor PKR leader said Azmin (left) has been the number one choice to replace Khalid.

Claiming that the current menteri besar lacked the support of PKR assemblypersons, the pro-Azmin leader said only five out of the 14 elected representatives want Khalid to remain as MB.

On the other hand, Chin said the slew of negative reports concerning PKR was related to the forthcoming party elections, which is slated for April.

“All the nasty stuff, including (PKR vice-president) Nurul Izzah’s divorce application, are because of positioning for the PKR polls.

“Although the opposition lost in the last general election, the ground continues to shift in the favour of Pakatan Rakyat.

“Those in the opposition feel that they can make it (take federal power) in the next general election, so they want to position themselves in the party. It is about the larger picture” he added.

However, Chin is confident that these issues would not affect PKR or its Pakatan partners.