Leave if you don’t want to be in Team MB, says Khalid
Yiswaree P, The Rakyat Post
Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has given an ultimatum to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and DAP executive councillors (exco) in the state.
“Leave if not keen to be in ‘Team MB’,” the Port Klang assemblyman said at a press conference today.
“If it is their conscience to not be in Team MB, then I feel it is best for them to not continue,” Abdul Khalid said after he had an audience with Selangor ruler, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, and a meeting with the state’s Royal Advisory Council this morning.
“As stipulated under Article 53 (2) (b) of the Selangor State Enactment, the state exco meeting can go on with a minimum of only four excos and PAS has already pledged their support,” Abdul Khalid said.
“I will be meeting the excos tomorrow to ask them if they are still keen to work with me.”
The embattled Selangor MB further said to date he already had the support from four PAS excos, namely Iskandar Abdul Samad, Sallehin Mukhyi, Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi and Dr Halimah Ali.
“As PAS have already made their stand, by expressing support via media reports that the four PAS exco members will be with me under my leadership, I can still continue with the usual state exco meetings.
“However, I will be taking this opportunity to meet the excos from PKR and DAP to know their willingness to be with me in conducting the exco meetings as well as the state administration,” he added.
Abdul Khalid said as the Menteri Besar, he could also recommend to the Sultan of Selangor to change the exco line-up.
“I can also advice them (excos) to relinquish their position.
“At the moment, however, I only dare to say that I will interview all the excos concerned.”
Abdul Khalid said that the onus was also on the parties concerned to prove their claims that he did not command majority support from the state assemblymen anymore.
“That’s for the other parties to test on whether the Menteri Besar has got no support or no majority support and this will be tested in accordance with provisions under the said enactment.”
Abdul Khalid said that the parties which claimed that he would not garner the said support could also make a report to the Sultan.
“However, I was informed by the Sultan that no such report has been received.”
Abdul Khalid then said that while he would consider joining PAS, his focus at the moment was to clear his name of all the accusations hurled at him by PKR.
On whether he would appeal his expulsion from PKR on Saturday, he said he had yet to consider it.
“I won’t be pursuing the matter in court, but I will ask the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to look into how organisations operate their mechanism, pertaining expulsion issues.”
Abdul Khalid, earlier at the press conference, said that Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah was also satisfied with his explanation and had permitted him to continue on as the Menteri Besar.
“Until and unless there are any new developments, I will remain the Menteri Besar of Selangor and will continue on with my duties.”
“The administration of the state is not one that is political in nature. It is governed by the excos and decisions from which are then supported and executed by the civil servants.
“Therefore, I do not foresee any problem pertaining to administration matters in the state,” he said when asked if his ousting from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), and the void of support from both PKR and DAP, would weaken his hold on Selangor.
Abdul Khalid said the issue of dissolving the Selangor State Legislative Assembly was also not brought up at any point during his meeting with the Selangor palace.
“Besides, I am not the one who has been calling for an emergency state assembly seating.”
