PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is the most preferred candidate to become the next Selangor menteri besar, according to a Merdeka Center survey.

The alternative candidate, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, fared the worst with only six percent wanting him as the state's chief executive, followed by a PAS menteri besar candidate with 12 percent in favour of such an option.

Interestingly, 15 percent of the respondents preferred a menteri besar from Umno compared with Azmin, or even a PAS candidate.

In the poll of 808 voters in Selangor, 25 percent of respondents said they wanted Wan Azizah (left) as menteri besar.

However, a larger number, at 32 percent, were unsure about who they would want to replace embattled Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

The remaining five percent declined to respond.

The survey comes amid an expected meeting next week between embattled Khalid, who has lost the state assembly’s confidence, and the Selangor sultan, on his fate.

PKR, which has found it difficult to work with Khalid, is pushing for Wan Azizah as his replacement and is backed by DAP, amid reluctance from PAS despite officially endorsing her.

PAS had also proposed Azmin as an alternative candidate but its partners has been insistent on Wan Azizah.

'Majority back Pakatan in fresh polls'

The survey, conducted between Aug 11 to 17, showed the Selangor crisis led to a drop in perception towards the Pakatan Rakyat state government.

It found that 46 percent of respondents had a positive view of the state’s direction, down 18 percent from 64 percent in March.

In terms of breakdown, 10 percent strongly believed the state was in the right direction while 36 percent thought the state is somewhat in the right direction.

In contrast, 14 percent strongly believe the state was in the wrong direction followed by 25 percent who think the state is somewhat in the wrong direction.

Fourteen percent more were unsure, while one percent refused to give an answer.

The respondents comprised 50 percent Malay, 34 percent Chinese and 16 percent Indian.

Despite this, a majority of Selangorians - 57 percent - thought Pakatan Rakyat should be given a second chance if fresh state elections were to be held.

Specifically, 21 percent strongly agreed to give Pakatan another chance while 36 percent more somewhat agreed to the proposal.

However, 29 percent said Pakatan should not be given a second chance, with 17 percent who were strongly in favour of such a stance and 12 percent more somewhat in agreement.

Thirteen percent said they did not know, while the remaining two percent declined to answer.

‘Water crisis still top’

More voters were also confident in Pakatan to continue leading the state at 43 percent compared BN which only received 28 percent support.

Thirteen percent said whichever party did not matter, 12 percent were unsure an three percent refused to state preference.

The numbers will be a barometer for Pakatan amid speculations that Khalid may seek the House’s dissolution when he meets the sultan.

Interestingly, despite the Selangor political crisis headlines, the state’s water crisis still triumphs.

Top on Selangor voters’ minds is the water issue (21 percent) followed by the Selangor menteri besar crisis (20 percent), political instability in general (six percent), crime and public safety (four percent) and traffic congestion (three percent).

The other issues are cleanliness and garbage (three percent), internal issues in parties (three percent), public infrastructure (two percent) and influx of illegal immigrants (two percent).

The problems plaguing the states aside, a plurality of Selangor voters still think that things are better off than when BN ruled the state until 2008.

Forty-six percent of Selangor voters said they were better off, compared to 15 percent who said they were worse off.

Thirty-six percent said things were the same and three percent are unsure.