PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahims has claimed to have no knowledge of speculation that 15 unhappy MPs had teamed up to topple Khalid Ibrahim as Selangor menteri besar.

NONE "I don't know about these 15 MPs. There was no discussion at any level, including (among PKR) MPs, to express such demands as reflected in the media reports," he told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.

Asked if Khalid’s post is under threat, he insisted that there is no such ploy.

Instead, Anwar ( left ) suggested that Umno might have started the rumour to deflect attention from its recent problems.

"I sense that there is a game to create such problems, partly to deflect the problems faced by Umno, especially (in relation to) Apco and Sungai Besi," he said.

khalid ibrahim He also explained the rationale to replace Khalid (left) as Selangor PKR chief over the weekend, when the party held a retreat.

"It has nothing to do with the rumour. It is to ease Khalid's burden. He told me many times. He cannot be expected to run the state (and manage politics as party state chief at the same time) and there are a lot of expectations," Anwar said, noting that Khalid can now focus on running the state.

He added that a Pakatan menteri besar does not necessarily have to head a component party in the state, as practised in “the Umno style of government”.

Asked if the move had gone down well with the delegates at the retreat, Anwar said it was a consensus decision.

‘Meeting soon’

The rumour that 15 MPs had teamed up to oust Khalid ( left ) surfaced last week.

black 14 questioning 160408 azmin ali Party vice-president Azmin Ali (right) was named as the mastermind, although he repeatedly denied any involvement.

Azmin, who has since taken over from Khalid as Selangor party chief, reiterated his denial in the Parliament lobby today.

"There is no such thing as a revolt. Its all a spin by the Umno-owned media," he claimed.

He added that Selangor PKR divisions will be invited to a meeting soon on possible reshuffling of posts.

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