PAS, DAP backs Khalid for Selangor MB post

As speculation is rife over who will assume the mantle of Selangor menteri besar, both PAS and DAP have denied having any design over the post, and are backing PKR's Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

However, a senior PKR leader has expressed his support for party Selangor chief and Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyperson Azmin Ali instead.

In Malay daily Sinar Harian today, PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali ( left ) said his party has no intention of claiming the post of Selangor menteri besar.

This is despite the Islamic party winning 15 state assembly seats, one more than PKR, whose leader held the post in the previous term.

"We have never claimed the post, nor do we intend to do so. We have decided to retain the existing MB (Khalid). The announcement will be made within a week," Mustafa is quoted as saying.

This was echoed by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who expressed the party’s “full support” of Khalid being retained as menteri besar for a second term.

“Khalid should continue as menteri besar after leading Pakatan to a resounding victory at the recent general election, by winning a two-third majority with 44 out of 56 state seats in Selangor from the previous 36 seats,” he said in a statement today.

The Penang chief minister added that even though his party won 15 seats, the same number as PAS, DAP, including its Selangor division, felt that “Khalid should be recognised for his integrity and stewardship of Selangor”.

“This (Khalid’s stewardship) had enabled Pakatan to beat back a determined effort by BN, led by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak himself, to win back Selangor.”

'Azmin more senior'

There is also strong lobby within PKR by those aligned to Khalid and to Selangor PKR chairperson Azmin Ali ( right ) for their preferences to take the post.

Among the latter group is Selangor PKR election director Borhan Aman Shah, who has stated his personal opinion that Azmin should get the job in terms of seniority and the latter's role as state party chief.

However, Borhan said this was for the Pakatan national leaders to decide.

Azmin had, at a joint press conference with other state Pakatan Rakyat leaders yesterday, said a state level meeting would be held soon to pick the MB and and the outcome to be conveyed to the coalition's leadership council for endorsement.

The candidate approved by the parties will also need to get the nod of the Selangor Sultan.

PAS' Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad said at the same press conference that there was no question of a PAS leader being more qualified for the post, although the party had won one more seat that the PKR in the state assembly.

Even so, Harian Metro today frontpaged Selangor PAS commissioner Abdul Rani Osman ( right ) as saying he was ready to shoulder the responsibility if chosen as MB, but "it is up to the leadership to decide".

The daily also reported that former Bangi assemblyperson Mohd Shafie Abu Bakar, who was dropped as a candidate in the 13th general election, called for PAS to push for more of its members in the state executive council, even if Khalid was retained as MB.