Khalid thanks PAS, apologises to Muslims for Selangor MB crisis
(Malay Mail Online) – Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim thanked his supporters in PAS today and apologised to Selangor voters, in particular the Muslims, for plunging the state into confusion and uncertainty over his position as Selangor mentri besar.
In yet another hint of his refusal to back down from the post, the embattled leader promised that the Selangor administration will continue to run smoothly throughout the Ramadan month and Hari Raya, and “in the Aidilfitri celebrations to come”.
“I will make sure that Selangor is governed well, as given the mandate by the people since 2008, and I will continue to make Selangor excel to obtain the blessings of God Almighty,” he said in a brief statement here.
Khalid, who is currently facing an ouster engineered by his own colleagues in PKR, also thanked PAS leaders Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and Datuk Ahmad Yakob for backing him.
Both leaders were the latest to voice support for Khalid, despite claims from others within PAS that the second-term mentri besar should be unseated.
“I apologise because this issue in Selangor has directly or indirectly affected their routines, particularly in the last ten days of the Ramadan month, which is typically spent on religious matters but has been interrupted by this political turmoil,” Khalid said, in a message to PAS.
“I also apologise to Selangor folk, especially the Muslims, because this issue, having been sensationalised during this honourable month, has somewhat dragged them into this uneasiness and confusion,” he said.
Yesterday, Ahmad, who is PAS acting ulama wing chief and Kelantan mentri besar, said the party’s powerful conservative faction “fully supports” Hadi’s endorsement of Khalid retaining his post as MB.
The leader also called on party members to support this, saying Hadi’s words represents PAS and should be respected.
“The PAS Dewan Ulama calls on all PAS members to understand the president’s wisdom in the matter, what more with the fact that the president has the final say in several issues which require an immediate decision,” said Ahmad.
Today, PAS spiritual adviser Nik Aziz echoed the sentiment. Like Ahmad, the political veteran said Hadi’s views should be respected and adhered to.
He said the party president had been fully informed of the situation when he declared his backing of Khalid but would not explain further.
On Friday, Hadi publicly expressed his support for Khalid to remain as Selangor Mentri Besar despite allies PKR and the DAP’s open declaration that they want Khalid replaced.
“I have heard all the arguments, and I find that majority of PAS grassroots are in agreement that Khalid Ibrahim should remain as mentri besar,” Hadi was quoted as saying in Terengganu.
Hadi’s defiance, if followed through as PAS’s official position, could push Selangor into a leadership crisis and possibly force the state to hold early elections, observers said.
Political pundits also believe that a snap polls could break the three-party Pakatan Rakyat coalition.
In a strongly-worded statement earlier this week, Khalid warned that any attempt to replace him must be done according to the state legislative enactment, which contained several processes or provisions before a new state mentri besar can assume office.
Khalid survived his own party’s abortive “Kajang Move” to oust him from the position last March, but surfacing controversies in the state have since renewed the push to have him replaced.
Among others, these include the still-unresolved row over the seizure of bibles in the state and Khalid’s perceived partiality towards the developers of the proposed Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) that is facing mounting resistance from state residents.
A major barrier to Khalid’s removal was the absence of a clear candidate to replace him, with PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail previously touted as the most likely candidate.
