‘I was offered post once’
SELANGOR MB’S JOB: Azmin blames Wan Azizah for arbitrarily sending list to sultan
THE gloves are off in the tussle for the Selangor menteri besar’s post with PKR deputy president Azmin Ali yesterday revealing that party supremo Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had offered him the job after allegedly branding Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as an “inefficient” menteri besar.
At a packed press conference at the PKR headquarters, Azmin was stinging in his remarks when he alleged that Anwar’s wife and PKR president, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, had acted arbitrarily by submitting a list of MB candidates to the Selangor sultan without consulting PKR members.
The former aide of Anwar, who co-founded PKR, disclosed that Anwar had wanted to boot Khalid out as menteri besar in 2008.
Azmin claimed that this was conveyed to him by Anwar after the Permatang Pauh by-election, which marked Anwar’s return to Parliament five years ago.
“Anwar told me to prepare myself to replace Khalid. He said the party was extremely dissatisfied with the performance of the menteri besar.
“Civil servants and the business community had complained on the gross bureaucratic practices which did not reflect a reformist administration.”
However, Azmin, who was later promoted as Selangor PKR chief to take over from Khalid at the time, said he firmly declined Anwar’s offer as he did not want to jeopardise the party’s unity.
Instead, Azmin claimed he, instead, pushed for Anwar to be appointed as the state economic adviser to mitigate complaints and problems which arose during Khalid’s tenure.
“When we talk about a reformed government, there has to be reforms. You want to talk about reformasi, but you might as well keep the old government if it takes two years for business owners to get approval. I would expect a reformist government to do away and dismantle this bureaucratic system. We want something that is transparent and above board.”
On Thursday, Azmin had said Selangor did not deserve a “lame duck” menteri besar since Pakatan had won the state with a sound majority.
However, Azmin yesterday deflected questions on his view of Khalid’s performance, stressing instead on the importance of seeking consultation and consensus among the state party leaders on the appointment of the menteri besar.
He emphasised that he did not reject Khalid’s nomination as menteri besar outright, saying that any decision made by consensus would be accepted and obeyed.
“This is why consultation is important… we want leaders who have the humility to listen to the people.
“If they can listen, they can change. But if they cover their ears, it is a different story.”
Without being specific, Azmin hinted that Anwar had also recently broached the subject of his possible appointment as menteri besar and on Khalid’s performance.
He said the opposition leader was willing to sit down for a discussion.
“But I told him that we have been discussing the same issue for many years. Be fair to me… if I am ambitious, then I would have taken the post after Permatang Pauh. I did not do that because I wanted to strengthen the party.”
Azmin expressed his frustration after being informed that a letter containing a list of possible appointees had allegedly been submitted by Dr Wan Azizah to the Selangor sultan on Thursday.
He claimed he did not know the contents of the letter as it did not receive the approval and consent of the party’s state leadership, suggesting instead that the move could promote “nepotism” within the party.
When asked if Dr Wan Azizah was acting unilaterally in sending the letter, Azmin replied: “In a way, yes.”
To offset the alleged transgression, Azmin said he later put up another list of candidates which he said was done with a consensus between Selangor PKR state assemblymen and parliamentarians.
“Our list was submitted to Dr Wan Azizah on Thursday and it is up to her to take the next step.”
Ironically, Azmin denied that PKR was having problems in retaining Khalid as menteri besar, despite the fact that Pas and DAP had already endorsed Khalid’s appointment
