A defiant Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim today declared he can still lead the state government without PKR and DAP.

           

He said according to the state constitution, only a minimum of four executive council (exco) members are needed to maintain the Selangor government.

He added that the minimum requirement can be fulfilled by PAS' existing four exco members who are still supporting him.

"I have read media reports that PAS has stated its support for its four exco members in the state government under my leadership.

"Therefore I can still convene the exco meeting," he told a press conference at the state secretariat building this afternoon.

There are presently four exco members from PAS and three exco members from PKR and DAP respectively in the state government.

Khalid said he will be meeting with PKR and DAP's exco members soon on whether they are prepared to support his leadership.

However, he said they can exit the state government should they refuse to back him.

"If they do not want to be in the menteri besar's team, then it will be better that they do not remain as exco," he said.

Abdul Khalid also insisted that he still retains majority support in the state assembly.
 
He added if there were any quarters who do not believe he enjoyed the majority support in the House, they can seek an audience with the Selangor sultan.
 
"They can report it to the sultan. But for now, the sultan has not received any report that I do not enjoy majority support," he said.

To a question, Khalid also said that he is "considering" joining PAS but he must first clear his name of the corruption allegations made by PKR against him.

 

Gov't still functional

Yesterday, PAS state commissioner Iskandar Ab Samad had revealed that the party had instructed all of its exco to remain in the state government.

The four are Iskandar, Selangor Sallehen Mukhyi (Sabak), Ahmad Yunus Hairi (Sijangkang) and Halimah Ali (Selat Klang).

On the same day, the DAP central executive committee decided that they will stay put pending a bid to replace Khalid to allow the state government to function.

PKR too yesterday indicated its exco members will remain in the state government for now.

It remains unclear if this will change following today's development.

However, hours after Abdul Khalid's announcement, PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali reiterated the party's directive for its exco to remain in the state government.
 
"PAS exco members in Selangor are to continue on with their duties until a new decision is made," he said in a Facebook posting.
 
The PAS central committee is expected to convene a meeting to address the issue on Aug 17.

When contacted, two DAP exco members, Ean Yong Hian Wah and V Ganabatirau, stated that they will follow party instructions not to resign.
 
"We will follow party order to continue to perform the duties as exco members," said Ean Yong said in a text message to Malaysiakini .

Echoing his collegue, Ganabatirau said: "It’s based on the party decision. If party says 'Go', I will go."

 
Selangor DAP chief Tony Pua told Malaysiakini that the party has "no intention" to review the party’s central executive committee decision to keep its three reps in the exco until a new MB is appointed.

Meanwhile, Khalid insisted that the state government will remain functional as it had strong support from Selangor public servants.

"The state government is not a political administration, it is managed by exco members and supported by public servants.

"Therefore I do not see any problem or inefficiencies (arising from this crisis)," he said.

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