The powerful PAS Syura Council has declared its support for Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Council chairperson Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and his deputy Haron Din ( left ), said in a joint statement that the decision was made based on public interests, which surpass the interests of individuals and parties.

"The post of Selangor menteri besar is a joint stand agreed by the three Pakatan Rakyat component parties that Khalid would be the menteri besar for a second term.

"Unless he (Khalid) had been found guilty of violating the trust (of the people), the council feels Khalid should remain as menteri besar.

"If the allegations are true and if he is found guilty by an authoritative body like the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) or the court, then the council is prepared to review Khalid's position," the statement by Nik Aziz and Haron added.

The PAS Syura Council is the highest authoritative decision-making body of the Islamic party.

 

With this decision, the PAS central committee meeting slated for Sunday morning, comprising party president Abdul Hadi Awang, his deputy Mohamad Sabu, the three vice-presidents and elected and appointed members, along with various state representatives, will appear to be just a formality.

 

Normally, in various issues to be decided by the party, its central committee will meet first and make a decision before the powerful Syura Council, which consists of clerics and is the highest decision-making body in the party, meets to discuss whether to endorse it or otherwise.

 

The meeting by the powerful council could be seen as a pre-emptive move for the central committee to make a decision.

 

Personal support

The Syura Council held its meeting in Kota Bharu yesterday and Nik Aziz, when meeting reporters at his house, voiced his personal support for Khalid.

This is despite PKR wanting Khalid to be replaced with party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail ( right ), to complete the 'Kajang Move' agenda.

 

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had earlier in the week alleged questionable integrity on Khalid’s part in resolving his RM66 million bank loan, and in the water restructuring exercise, as the prime reasons to drop him as menteri besar.

DAP is said to be backing PKR while PAS, which has the largest number of elected Selangor assemblypersons at 15, wants Khalid to remain.

 

PKR and DAP each have 14 assemblypersons in the Pakatan coalition in Selangor.

 

The Syura Council ended its official statement by saying that it would continue being steadfast to the Islamic struggle as contained in the party's constitution and reiterated its commitment to Pakatan.

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