Frustrated PKR sacks Khalid from party, Selangor crisis deepens

Ida Lim, Malay Mail Online

PKR, so far unable to unseat MB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim from his job as the Mentri Besar of Selangor, has sacked him from the party.

The decision today by PKR’s disciplinary committee to cut Khalid adrift deepens the crisis over who will lead Malaysia’s richest state without bringing resolution any closer, entrenching concerns that the three-party Pakatan Rakyat coalition which governs Selangor will soon fall apart.

A statement from the committee said the sacking takes effect immediately.

The Pakatan Rakyat coalition which governs Selangor has not been able to reach consensus whether Khalid must step down. PKR wants him replaced by Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. DAP agrees but Islamist party PAS continues to back Khalid.

Khalid’s sacking leaves the coalition in a precarious state and will add to worries that snap polls may have to be called to ward off a stalemate.

PKR’s share of the 56 seat Selangor state assembly drops to 13 from 14. Its allies DAP and PAS have 15 seats each while Umno, the opposition in the state, has 12.

It is still not known if Khalid will join any other party or will simply become the lone independent assemblyman.

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