Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has denied claims that Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) decision to remove PKR deputy president Azmin Ali from its board is an attempt to oust or sideline him.
 
Describing the matter as "confusion" and "technical error", he said it was unnecessary speculate on the reasons of the dismissal.
 
“I promise to clarify this matter as soon as possible so as to explain the whole story to the public... the Selangor state government's administration is transparent," he told reporters after attending an event at Klang today.
 
On Jan 11, Abdul Khalid had said the decision to dismiss Azmin was made by the state-owned conglomerate’s general manager Othman Omar, not state exco members.
 
However, PKNS turned around and said that Azmin's contract was not renewed on orders from the state exco.
 
To this, Abdul Khalid said he would request PKNS executive secretary Norita Mohd Sidek to show relevant minutes of meeting to prove that PKNS had been given permission to dismiss any board member.
 
Azmin, the MP for Gombak and state assemblyperson for Bukit Antarabangsa, had reportedly set his sights on becoming Selangor menteri besar, which in turn put strain on his relationship with Abdul Khalid.
 
Meanwhile, on rumours that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim was mulling to replace the menteri besar, Khalid denied this and stressed that this should not become an issue.
 
"Anwar and I have met privately over this matter, we hope we won't hear anybody spreading such rumours any more," he said.
 
Azmin had repeatedly referred Abdul Khalid as " Mr U-Turn " without naming him, in a series of postings on Twitter yesterday.
 
Asked if this was insulting, Abdul Khalid refused comment.