In a move to break its deadlock with its Pakatan Rakyat members in Selangor, PAS says it will back both PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and deputy president Azmin Ali for the post of menteri besar.

This was announced by PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu after more than two hours of deliberation by the party's central committee meeting at its headquarters today.

In the interim, Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, said the party's four state executive council members would remain in the Selangor government under the partyless menteri besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, pending his replacement.

"PAS today unanimously agrees to nominate two names to replace Khalid Ibrahim. The names proposed by PAS are Wan Azizah and Azmin Ali," Mat Sabu said.

The statement was prepared in the name of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang but was read out by Mat Sabu. Hadi was absent from the press conference.

It is not clear how this move by PAS will fare with PKR, which has been adamant that Wan Azizah (left) is its sole candidate for menteri besar of Selangor.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution had previously dismissed speculation that Azmin may be an alternative to Wan Azizah.

'Azmin chosen because he's PKR No 2'

The Pakatan leadership council will hold an emergency meeting today, following the PAS announcement.

Meanwhile, PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali, who was also at the media conference, said Azmin was also nominated because he is the number two in PKR, but he did not want to elaborate.

"Azmin is deputy. All long there were two names (for menteri besar)," Mustafa said.

Reading on from the statement, Mat Sabu reiterated that PAS was committed to Pakatan Rakyat.

He added the continued tenure of its four exco members in the state government was to ensure that services to the rakyat are not disrupted pending Khalid's replacement.

Mat Sabu (right) also dismissed any more support by PAS for Khalid.

"It does not arise anymore. He (Khalid) is no longer a PKR member," he said.

The Selangor government has been in a limbo after Hadi and the PAS Syura Council insisted on backing Khalid despite PKR's bid to replace him.

This culminated with PKR sacking Khalid from the party on Aug 9 , to which Khalid retaliated by sacking six exco members from DAP and PKR from the state government three days later.

Stalemate broken

The state government has since been led by Khalid and four exco members from PAS in compliance with the Syura Council decision pending today's decision by the central committee.

The anti-Khalid group, comprising 13 representatives from PKR and 15 from DAP, make up exactly half of the 56-member House.

Khalid, together with Umno's 12 assemblypersons and PAS' 15 representatives made up the remaining half, making it impossible to remove the embattled menteri besar.

However, this stalemate was broken last Thursday, after two PAS assemblypersons unilaterally backed Wan Azizah to replace Khalid, without their party's endorsement.

Meanwhile, Selangor PAS said it would comply with the central committee's decision to back the move to replace Khalid and to remain in the state government pending this move.

“We will continue to work with any menteri besar there is, including the next one who will be appointed with the consent of the His Highness the Selangor Sultan soon,” Selangor PAS secretary Mohd Khairuddin Othman said.

Following the official stance by PAS this afternoon, Khalid in a statement hours later, said he would seek an audience with the Selangor sultan on his fate.

"With the latest development, I will seek an audience with His Highness Selangor Sultan to advice me on the next move," the menteri besar said.

Khalid did not give any indication as to whether he was planning to resign to seek a dissolution of the state assembly.


Selangor crisis today

10.19am: An expected stand-off outside the PAS HQ fizzles after the Black Ribbon campaign cancels its protest as the PAS central committee convenes a long awaited meeting.

11.41am: Embattled Selangor MB Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's top strategist Faekah Husin likened PKR's accusation against her boss to a 'hatchet job' book on Anwar Ibrahim in 1998.

12.28pm: PAS central committee unanimously withdraws support for Khalid. The party nominates PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and her deputy Azmin Ali as replacements.

12.58pm: Azmin is tight-lipped about his sudden nomination and says to pray for the best. PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution insists that Wan Azizah is the sole candidate for MB as previously decided by PKR.

2pm: Khalid says he accepts PAS' decision and will seek an audience with the Selangor sultan on how to proceed.

2.08pm: PKR Youth publicly endorses PAS' proposal for Azmin to be the alternative candidate for menteri besar, just hours before PKR's leadership meeting.

3pm: Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin mocks Pakatan Rakyat, claiming PAS' additional nomination of Azmin was a veiled stab at Anwar and PKR.

6pm: Sources tells Malaysiakini that PKR decided to stick with Wan Azizah over Azmin after more than two hours of deliberation by its leaders in Subang Jaya.

7.29pm: Pakatan, which held its meeting immediately after PKR's, confirms it will only propose Wan Azizah as menteri besar after discussing for around an hour.

8.24pm: Azmin says he will comply with PKR's decision to propose Wan Azizah as menteri besar and voices support for his boss despite his own nomination.