Khalid: Even Umno admits we are doing well in S'gor

Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim today revealed that former Umno menteri besar Muhammad Muhammad Taib had paid tribute to him on the many changes seen in the state.

In his 30-minute winding speech during the PKR Selangor convention in Shah Alam today, Khalid claimed that he had met the former menteri besar of 11 years three days ago when the latter made the glowing remarks.

"He (Muhammad Taib) said to me, ‘Khalid, if this is how you govern Selangor, we are doomed (then)," said Khalid, suggesting that BN could never achieve what the state has now achieved although it (BN) had administrated for 20 years.

"What Muhammad Taib was meant to say was that the BN had governed for 20 years, and we could achieve what we have now within only 20 months. This is such an honour for us," said Khalid, to the cheers from the delegates.

According to him, Muhammad Taib has also expressed his willingness to work with Pakatan Rakyat to uplift the living conditions of the people in rural areas.

"But I said, ‘Hold that thought. Do you know what ‘reformasi' (changes) means?' Otherwise, it would be hard (for me to accept him)... there are still many people in PKR itself who don't know what it means," said Khalid, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Since Pakatan wrested Selangor from BN in the last general election, the state administration led by Khalid had introduced numerous welfare programmes to the people.

This includes a programme called ‘Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor' or communitarian economy where the state government gives back its wealth to the people, including providing them with 20 cubic metre of free water.

‘My biggest problem is PKR itself'

On the same note, Khalid also expressed his regret over the attitude of some PKR members who seem to be ignorant of the word ‘keadilan' or justice.

He said this was one of the biggest problems he has faced since being installed as a menteri besar in the state.

"To be honest, in terms of administrating the state, I have faced a big challenge and this challenge does not come from the people or DAP or Umno or PAS.

"The biggest challenge and hurdle that I am going through is from my own party," he said, adding the party was having some ‘weaknesses' that could thwart its movement in the future.

"When people say we want reformasi, we want changes. But when people say we should have justice in our government, does this mean we should only be fair to our own people?" he asked.

That is why, he added, that the free water was given to everyone, regardless of their political backgrounds.

"When we say we want to give free water, we are giving it to Umno supporters and to MIC supporters, even to the people who do not belong to any. This is what we call, ‘justice for all'," he said, referring to PKR's tagline.

Khalid also lamented that there were some in the party who practiced cronyism even though he has been fighting against it.

"I have been telling everyone that I would fight cronyism because this would only bring us down as a party. But some people still do not get it, they still want to be cronies for some people," he said.

No regrets in seeing Badrul go

In a separate note, Khalid was also unperturbed with former PKR Pelabuhan Klang state assemblyperson Badrul Hisham Abdullah's decision to leave the party to become a BN-friendly independent.

According to him, this does not affect the party at all, as ‘we never felt his existence'.

"When he jumped out of PKR's ship, people said that we would lose more supporters and leaders from the party, but I beg to differ...there will be more problems for Umno if he decides to join them," said Khalid.

"If (former menteri besar) Dr Mohd Khir Toyo thinks Badrul is his friend, looks like they are at the same level of thinking," said Khalid sarcastically, amusing the delegates.

Badrul has left PKR to become a BN-friendly independent late last month, citing dissatisfaction over Khalid's administration in the state.

However, the menteri besar said that Badrul was ‘non-performing' and that he should have resigned from the elected post.