Khalid not resigning as MB even if defeated in PKR polls
(The Malaysian Insider) – Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim says he will not resign as Selangor menteri besar if he loses the PKR deputy presidency contest, news portal Malaysiakini reported.
“There was never a clause to say if you fail in your party elections, you have to resign as menteri besar,” he was quoted as saying at a press conference in Port Klang today.
Khalid said a defeat in the three-way race was irrelevant to his position, as the only requirement to become the state’s menteri besar was to be a Selangor assemblyman.
“It’s like if you lose as MP, then you cannot be a minister. That is okay. But if you are an MP, you remain as an MP until the next general election,” he was quoted saying.
On Thursday, Khalid was defeated in the contest for the PKR Kuala Selangor division chief post by challenger S. Manikavasagam, who clinched 701 votes to Khalid’s 515.
But Khalid today dismissed the notion that the outcome hinted of an end of his political career, noting that he intended to challenge the results.
“I will continue my efforts until my responsibilities as a state assemblyperson, menteri besar as well as MP for Bandar Tun Razak end,” Khalid reportedly said.
PKR and DAP Selangor have both been critical of Khalid’s performance as menteri besar, as well his handling of hot-button issues, such as water shortages, the Kidex highway and the Bible seizure.
PKR sources told The Malaysian Insider that the only obstacle recently Pakatan leaders faced in removing Khalid was PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who allegedly has “close ties” with Khalid through his son-in-law.
DAP’s Datuk Mohd Ariff Sabri wrote on his blog that Khalid must be replaced should he lose the PKR deputy presidency.
