Khalid still needs PKR’s nod to continue helming Selangor
(The Star) – With the so-called “Kajang Move” now in a shambles, negotiations are under way for Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim (pic) to stay in his post.
Khalid’s political secretary Azman Abidin said efforts had been initiated to bring Khalid and his PKR bosses Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to the negotiating table.
The discussions to bring them to the table started before Hari Raya but were halted due to the festive holidays.
“I hope the discussions will resume soon,” said Azman.
He said he was the middle person arranging the negotiations as well as relaying communications between Khalid and Anwar.
“I am working hard for the negotiations to take place so that Tan Sri (Khalid) will be given the opportunity to carry on as mentri besar,” said Azman.
He said that although Khalid received outside support to stay on, he still required PKR’s nod to continue helming Selangor.
“Tan Sri comes from PKR so it is important that he gets the mandate from PKR to stay on,” Azman said.
He said the matter could be settled amicably if it was confined to and negotiated within party channels.
“The situation has to cool down and people should not be issuing statements that could be detrimental to the party and Pakatan Rakyat,” he said.
If the negotiations failed to resume, Azman said, Khalid would have to wait for the outcome of the Pakatan Rakyat leaders’ meeting on Aug 10. The meeting is to deliberate and arrive at a final decision on Khalid’s position.
PKR wants Khalid to vacate the mentri besar’s seat for Dr Wan Azizah.
DAP has agreed to the change in mentri besar, but PAS leaders have baulked at the proposal.
According to Azman, Khalid’s visit to PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat was merely a courtesy call during Hari Raya.
“It was just a Hari Raya visit and there was nothing else to it,” he said.
The visit had set tongues wagging that PAS would scupper PKR and DAP’s plans to replace Khalid with Dr Wan Azizah.
