Khalid: ‘No plans’ to leave MB’s post
(MM) – Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has indicated that he does not mean to vacate the Selangor mentri besar’s office he has held since 2008, despite the seeming air of finality surrounding PKR’s intention to remove him from the coveted post.
In a recent interview with The Malay Mail Online, the former corporate icon said he has not finalised any agreement or reached any consensus to relinquish his post to make way for opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“No plans otherwise,” Khalid said succinctly when asked whether he plans to stay in his job.
Hinting at the difficulties that await PKR’s unilateral move, he also noted that removing a mentri besar from power is no simple matter and requires the consent of more than just his party.
“As mentri besar, I am representing not only PKR but PAS and DAP as well. In this context if I want to become MB I need to be accepted by each party.
“Other people can talk about the subject, but you must follow protocol, you are representing these parties,” the Port Klang assemblyman said.
While Anwar and PKR have been coy about their plans, the party’s de facto chief has at least conceded that replacing Khalid as Selangor MB is an option “on the table” if the former deputy prime minister wins Kajang state seat next month.
Among the offered reasons for such a drastic move was the purported weaknesses in the Khalid administration’s handling of social and economic problems headed for the state.
Khalid refused, however, to delve into Anwar’s assertions nor the latter’s plans for the leadership of the state.
“That is up to him. It’s his opinion. Everyone can have an opinion,” Khalid said in response.
“I think we need to stop being speculative. For now we focus on the Kajang by-election,” added PKR’s by-election director.
Anwar said recently that his entry into the Selangor state government would be necessary “strengthen” the administration and allow him to use his political experience to deflect attacks against the state administration currently led by MB Khalid.
While PKR is increasingly admitting that Anwar could eventually become MB, its ally PAS has been vocal in its resistance to such a change, with the Islamist party’s Youth and ulama wings along with the party’s local chapter all vowing to challenge the move.
Even the response from PKR’s other ally, DAP, has been lukewarm; the party has not mustered more enthusiasm than to say that it will go along with what the PR national leadership decides.
PKR, PAS and DAP together make up the PR coalition that governs Selangor, the country’s most-developed state.
PKR’s Lee Chin Cheh resigned suddenly and without reason as Kajang assemblyman late in January, triggering a by-election for Anwar to contest.
The unforced resignation is fuelling rumours that Anwar plans to join the state assembly for the purpose of removing Khalid from his post.
The by-election will be held on March 23 and nominations are scheduled for March 11.
PKR’s Lee won the Kajang seat in with a 6,824-vote majority in the elections held last May.
The Kajang constituency is 48 per cent Malay, 41 per cent Chinese and 10 per cent Indian.
