PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has given an assurance that Khalid Ibrahim will remain as the Selangor menteri besar despite an alleged undercurrent movement to oust him.

Anwar said the issue of Khalid has been resolved democratically, and he (Khalid) has been given the full mandate to be menteri besar.

“Yes, I have received some complaints on Khalid. We cannot put aside their critical views. We listen and the decision is to continue supporting Khalid as menteri besar.

“This is an old issue and it is being revived again, but the decision is to continue to give a full mandate to Khalid was made recently,” said Anwar.

azlan The issue came about when a website reported that Khalid’s relationship with Selangor assemblypersons and PKR MPs was strained.

According to AntaraPos.com , a portal set up by former TVSelangor editors, several of these assemblypersons had met PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail on this issue. The website claims that Anwar initially had succumbed to such pressure.

However, according to AntaraPos.com , Wan Azizah refused to make the decision as it may cause uneasiness in the state line-up.

According to the report, this latest issue would not only affect PKR which has 12 state seats but also the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

Quoting sources, the report blamed Khalid’s zest to implement state policies after they were announced with much publicity and pomp.

The report cited the microcredit scheme which is allegedly burdened by excessive bureaucracy, and named the clean-up of the Klang river which was announced three years ago as another.

His critics claimed Khalid only focuses on minor projects which do not bring about the desired long-term effect for the betterment of the Selangor people.

Memorandum sent

According to sources, PKR assemblypersons had handed over a memorandum to Anwar wanting him to expel the menteri besar to ensure PKR and Pakatan Rakyat’s control in Selangor.

The memorandum was handed over to Anwar at the PKR congress. Upon learning this, Khalid left the convention in a huff, in protest.

Several members of the PKR central committee and the party political bureau had also expressed their dissatisfaction about Khalid in terms of his contributions to the party or as menteri besar.

They cited various Khalid’s actions in stopping various community programmes which had been arranged, but instead approving various programmes in the state which could raise his popularity.

AntaraPos.com also claimed that PKR needed the support of DAP and PAS before having an audience with the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, to bring the motion and introduce a new menteri besar.  

However, the proposal died down when Wan Azizah put her foot down, although this allegedly went against the PKR central committee’s directive, which wanted Khalid’s removal.

Sources cite that the movement to get rid of Khalid was clamped down on by the Selangor menteri besar’s political secretary, Faekah Husin, who was Wan Azizah’s special officer but is now serving with Khalid.

Although Faekah is serving in the Selangor menteri besar’s office, she also works for the PKR president.

“PKR is said to face a serious internal problem as it involves three high-profile individuals - Anwar, his wife and Khalid,” said the source.

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