With the Selangor sultan cutting short his overseas trip, speculation that the state assembly will be dissolved continues to gain traction.

All eyes are now on the palace, to see if there will be a royal twist to the protracted saga when embattled Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has an audience with the ruler.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source close to Khalid told Malaysiakini that dissolution is one of the main options available to resolve the political crisis.

"Dissolving the state legislative assembly will be one of the scenarios to be suggested to the sultan. There are several other scenarios which the sultan can choose," the source added.

Legal experts and Pakatan Rakyat leaders have argued that there is no need to dissolve the assembly and hold a snap election, since PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail commands the majority support of the elected representatives.

PKR gears up for snap polls option

However, another source from the state administration said the sultan, who is due to return on Saturday, might be hesitant about dissolving the assembly.

The source added that the sultan could instead opt for a smooth transition of power.

Since Wan Azizah's name was proposed as the replacement for Khalid, there has been talk that the palace might withhold its consent.

An analysis published in Sinar Harian today states that PAS has a bright chance of getting the post of menteri besar should the sultan decline Wan Azizah or any other PKR leader.

Previously, PAS, which controls more seats than PKR in Selangor, clarified that it would not ask for the post, which has been in its coalition partner's grip since 2008.

Meanwhile, PKR is also preparing for the prospect of facing a snap election.

According to party insiders, top leaders have been putting the message across to their subordinates and counterparts in PAS.

"We do not wish to be caught unprepared," a leader told Malaysiakini.

Political observers have noted that the crisis has eroded support for Pakatan and a snap election could prove dangerous.


Selangor crisis today

9.14am: DAP Youth leader says columnist Ridhuan Tee Abdullah must apologise for suggesting Selangor will be 'darul babi' if MB Khalid Ibrahim is removed

9:48am: PAS rep Saari Sungib says he signed the statutory declaration primarily to reject the incumbent MB, but not to support PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as widely perceived

12pm: Sinar Harian speculates that PAS has a good chance of getting MB post, if the ruler rejects Wan Azizah or other PKR reps

12.39pm: PAS exco man Sallehen Mukhyi says president Abdul Hadi Awang didn't discuss PKR's Azmin Ali as MB, with sultan in July 31 meeting

2.55pm: MB crisis will hurt Pakatan in polls, but win expected, says DAP's Bukit Gasing rep

3.34pm: Selangor PAS reiterates that they are not interested in the MB post as it belongs to PKR

4.29pm: MB's lawyer denies claim by his aide that his debt was settled via a Middle Eastern bank, PAS MP Khalid Samad says

5.15pm: Sources close to MB says dissolution of the assembly will be one of the options put forth to the sultan