YOURSAY ‘Whether you stay or go, you show yourself as a transparent politician.’

MB to 'spend more time' pleasing the party

Abasir: Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim is exactly what a corrupt, self-serving system put in place by a rotten regime needs. Unfortunately, the many career politicians in PKR weaned on an addictive diet of 'you help me, I help you' and used to giving and receiving favours are in the majority.

Khalid is a lonely voice in the back alley of PKR politics, while there are many more Azmin Alis all around him. The 'Kajang move' is likely to checkmate the maverick MB and return Selangor to its wheeler-dealer days.

While it may not be as bad as the Mohd Khir Toyo regime, I predict the Anwar Ibrahim-Azmin combo will make it a lot more difficult to differentiate between the bad old days and the present. Just as Najib Abdul Razak's 'Janji Ditepati' is now a national joke, Anwar's 'reformasi' and 'keadilan' are likely to be minor footnotes in this country's history.

Fair Play: You are a true corporate man. Like a chairperson of the board facing shareholders at a general meeting, you explained the company's performance and what you would do to improve performance. Whether you stay or go, you show yourself as a transparent politician in managing the state.

In contrast, Anwar is another career politician, like Azmin and most other politicians. He plays to the gallery and sings different songs to different audiences. The Kajang by-election may well be the Achilles' heel for PKR.

Anonymous #37634848: Now the cat is out of the bag! Khalid wants to manage the state as a corporation and that is his expertise. But the party wants to run it as a political entity. Khalid has left too many gaps. The poor and the needy can be better served if the surplus funds that the MB has painstakingly accumulated can be strategically spent to benefit them.

The party, through Azmin, has pushed for this but Khalid believes his way is the only way! Even in the corporate world, if you don't follow the board’s policy, you get the boot.

Khalid has overlooked that he was elected by the people. It is not too late for both parties to leverage on their principles for the sake of the people. My take is that they are on the way.

Satay samuri: Will the plan to put Anwar in Kajang work? No one knows. But we can help and give our support to make things work. At the end of the day, we want to have a Malaysia free of corruption and racism.

KDP: I don't know what positive change in Selangor has taken place. Living in the Lion City and going back to visit the folks occasionally, I still see the same lousy infrastructure and Third World set-up (I am referring to places like Subang Jaya and Shah Alam). I just keep voting for Pakatan because I want to see Umno go down in flames.

I don't think Khalid is any better than Khir Toyo. You know nothing has changed when your roads, sidewalks, greenery and public transport are still inferior. No one can sort out big issues if basic ones can't be conquered. I am convinced that Malaysian leadership lacks the energy and thought process when it comes to bringing concrete improvements.

My life hasn't changed despite the leadership transition, nor has it for my folks. If anything, like most Malaysians, we make the changes in our lives via our own pockets.

Blackmoon: All of us seem to love Khalid Ibrahim as the MB of Selangor. Let us all translate our love for Khalid by not voting for Anwar in the Kajang by-election. If you do not like BN, vote for any independent or not at all. If Anwar loses, Khalid will not be replaced as MB.

Even if it means to sacrifice one PKR seat in the by-election, it will not make any difference because Pakatan Rakyat still commands the Selangor state assembly. It is time we let Anwar know that he is not indispensable.

Armchair Newspaper: As part of political reforms and improving governance and accountability of elected assemblypersons and office bearers, I think Khalid is right to increase their salaries. It is hypocritical to advocate a clean administration when elected members are paid lowly.

Although raising salaries does not equate to being free of corruption and rent-seeking conducts so entrenched in Malaysia, it will go a long way to increase the political will to prosecute those caught with corrupt practices.

Corgito Ergo Sum: Khalid, you have performed 100 percent and no one can dispute that. The worst thing PKR could do to itself is to remove you. If that happens, your fellow party members are no better than Umno/BN.

Hank Marvin: You are obviously an armchair observer, Corgito Ergo Sum. Khalid failed to develop the state. Forget Azmin and gang. Just go to the rural areas and they will say the MB of Selangor is Khir Toyo. Why? Because Khalid left the state with the Diplomatic and Administrative Service (PTD) officers who are Umno sympathisers and his (then) political secretary Faekah Husin.

Khalid locked himself in the office counting money. That is why Pakatan failed to increase the number of Parliament seats it held. Khalid fled Ijok because he ignored the constituents’ problems, and the excellent Hulu Selangor MP Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad lost because of Khalid.

Just look at the areas where Pakatan lost: all the northern constituencies whose population are poor and marginalised. Khalid never bothered to know their problems. That is why Anwar stepped in. Now Khalid is giving the ignorant journalists his excuses.

Mosquito: Tan Sri Khalid, yes, there are the three or four bad apples that you have to deal with and please do deal with them the way you have always done by being transparent and staying on course towards real reform, where everyone, without exception, is answerable for their actions. No more turning a blind eye or looking the other way.

Ketuanan Rakyat: Dear Khalid, continue your good work. Get Anwar to win the Kajang seat and keep Azmin under control while you do your job with full commitment. Malaysians must move forward with the two-party system by ensuring Pakatan comes to power in the next general election. With Penang and Selangor run well, no one can say Pakatan has no experience in governing.

Gggg: This Kajang by-election looks like doing more good to Khalid than to Azmin. In fact, more people beginning to understand his decisions.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .