Following a media report claiming that PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution is to be appointed 'political liaison officer' in the Selangor government, a PAS division head has demanded a post for the party’s representative as well.

Chempaka state assemblyperson Iskandar Abdul Samad, who is Pandan PAS division chief, wants one of the three vice-presidents in the party to be placed in the state government to oversee daily administration.

In a statement, Iskandar urged PAS leaders to treat Selangor as a 'PAS state', just like Kelantan currently and Kedah and Terengganu in the past.

NONE “Selangor PAS won 15 state seats in the 13th general election, the same as the number of seats in Terengganu and higher than the number of seats in Kedah,” he said.

“Selangor is unique because, apart from being a 'PAS state', it is also a 'DAP state' and 'PKR state'. No party can claim this state as their state because the total number of state seats of each party is almost equal. It is actually a 'Pakatan Rakyat state'.”

Hence Iskandar said issues in Selangor must be discussed in detail by the highest leadership of PAS.

“With the rumour that Saifuddin will be appointed as 'political liaison officer' in the office of Selangor menteri besar, a PAS vice-president should also be tasked to oversee the daily affairs in Selangor,” he said.

saifuddin nasution jelajah merdeka pkr political violence attack 080313 Malay daily Sinar Harian today quoted sources close to the menteri besar’s office as saying that Saifuddin (left) will be tasked with oversight of the political relationship among Pakatan coalition parties in the state.

The appointment was been approved by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim in a discussion last week.

Saifuddin will also be responsible for mobilising the state machinery to rural areas dominated by BN, through the upgrade and development of infrastructure and welfare programmes by using the RM2.65 billion in state reserves.

NONE To counter criticism within PKR that he has been “stingy” and “rigid” as the state chief executive, Khalid (right) first announced the idea of establishing a political liaison office during the party national congress last weekend, saying that it was a suggestion from Anwar.

Conceding that he is more of an administrator than a politician, Khalid said those who are skilled in political matters would be appointed to the office.

In an interview with Malaysiakini last week, Khalid revealed that he will spend more on the development of rural areas and the outskirts of urban zones during his second term as menteri besar.

He added that his administration will have to focus more on the heartlands of the bumiputera community.