PKR CONGRESS Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has candidly acknowledge criticism against him for being “stingy” and “rigid” as the chief executive, promising to improve himself.

“You say that I am stingy, I accept, because it is not my money (state funds)... I accept the concept that the money should be put to better use, why keep so much, I accept.

“I would like to start with rural villages which we will develop through a number of efforts so that they will see a clear increase of income within three years,” he said in response to delegates during the 9th PKR Congress today.

He said the state government will announce the details soon, but promised that the use of the reserve will be conducted transparently.

Under the PKR-led Selangor government, the state had amassed a staggering RM2.6 billion in reserves.

Abdul Khalid recounted that his mother had educated him to be frugal with money as losing it would also affect the whole family.

“So I take care (of money), if I lose RM2.6 billion of the people’s money, the people will curse me until I have nowhere to go,” he said.

However, he said the state government will still work on increasing its reserves by pursuing debt and abuse of funds by the previous BN administration.

Abdul Khalid also acknowledged complaints of rigidity in his administration, promising that he will deal with the matter.

“Even though (PKR supremo) Anwar Ibrahim thinks I am not listening, but I accept, and my office will form a political liaison office,” he said, adding that those who are skilled in political matters would be appointed.

Conceding that he was more an administrator than a politician, he said he had read three books on politics to brush up his skills.

“I see my comrades, even though they feel uncomfortable, they remain with us and this is the meeting of camaraderie.

“Therefore I will help strengthen our comrades even though I know there are those who think I am refusing to listen,” he said.

‘I’m the party’s bad boy’

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, who has been a proponent for Khalid to loosen up the state government to the party, said PKR is looking to form an institute for political education to train young party members in administration and politics.

“When we speak about finances, we are not asking for contracts or want the people’s money.

“We want a transparent channel like an institute where it has facilitators and trainers with facilities to train our members in leadership, we hope to train 10,000 members every year,” he said.

NONE Azmin ( right in photo ) also said he took full responsibility for delays in the seat negotiations.

However, he indicated that it was unwise to end all negotiations and go into the 14th general election using the seat allocation in the recently-concluded general election as PKR had a disproportionately small number of seats in certain states.

He said for example, PKR only contested three state assembly seats in Terengganu while PAS had 29.

“I can take the popular stance that it is easy to give up five seats, 10 seats, but I must defend the party’s honour even though it is unpopular.

“It is not easy but let me be the ‘bad boy’ in the party as long as the party’s honour is defended,” he said, adding that PKR needs to be respected by friends and foes.

Taking the stand later, PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim praised Abdul Khalid’s integrity but said economic growth statistics was not the only measure of good governance and he had to strike a balance between growth and the need to spend on the people.

“But I tell Khalid, do not compromise the principle of good governance, financial procedures and integrity, do not compromise no matter how much pressure is given, but of course he must also look at the problems,” he said.

‘Bridge for gov’t and party’

Speaking to journalist later, Anwar also described Selangor information chief Shuhaimi Shafiei’s urging for party members to be appointed into government-linked companies (GLCs) and local councils to axe people who were not aligned to the party’s policies as “not possible”.

“The issue is whether an individual is competent or qualified professionally to serve on the (company’s) board, but it does not necessary represent the party.

“The party should not be seen or perceived to be involved in the direct management of the civil service or business of the state, and we must clearly differentiate and demarcate their responsibilities,” he said.

However, Anwar did not completely rule out the possibility of party members in GLCs, pointing out that skilled individuals like Abdul Khalid, even though a party member, is heading several GLCs.

Aside from the formation of the Centre for Reform and Democracy which will serve as the vehicle for political education as proposed by Azmin, Anwar also proposed PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution to be appointed into Selangor’s new political liaison office.

He said it would also be a bridge to PKR and Pakatan Rakyat as well as for community programmes.

“But party representatives in GLCs, we have said clearly, it is not possible, if you do that then it becomes Umno,” he said.

He added that the political liaison office will also oversee to ensure that political matters were properly separated from the civil service and companies’ businesses.