Khalid: Selangor palace to meet tomorrow to discuss MB crisis
(Malay Mail Online) – The Selangor Sultan and palace officials will be meeting tomorrow morning to discuss Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s position as state mentri besar following his sacking yesterday from PKR, Khalid told reporters today that he would carry on as MB for now and that his current priority was the well-being of the state and not party politics.
“I will carry on my duties as mentri besar as usual and have been advised not to make any statements until the royal advisory council meets tomorrow.
“I will discuss the matter with the Sultan after the meeting,” he said.
Khalid, who was sacked by PKR yesterday, called the decision “a conspiracy of the highest order.”
Khalid has given no indication what any advice from the Sultan may be but slammed PKR’s decision to expel him from the party as “flawed and illegal.”
Yesterday, PKR’s disciplinary committee decided to expel Khalid mainly for his open defiance of the party’s decision that he must step down to make way for PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
The verdict was unanimous and took immediate effect.
“I repeat my statement yesterday that I accept PKR’s decision even though it was wrong, unlawful and in direct opposition to the party’s constitution,” the Port Klang assemblyman added today.
The Pakatan Rakyat coalition that governs Selangor has not been able to reach consensus whether Khalid must step down. PKR wants him replaced by Dr Wan Azizah. DAP agrees but Islamist party PAS continues to back Khalid.
PKR’s decision to sack Khalid from the party comes ahead of a PAS meeting on August 17 to decide its final stand.
PKR has denied that Khalid’s expulsion is meant to pressure PAS to withdraw its backing for Khalid as Selangor’s top leader.
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 13.
