'Khalid Ibrahim to sell himself to highest bidder?'

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Former Selangor menteri besar Khalid Ibrahim's offer to take over as MB has drawn ridicule from his former PKR colleague, asking how he intends to do so as an independent assemblyperson.

"Besides being sacked from PKR, how can an independent assemblyperson and MP hope to get back the MB post without being in a political party?

"Is he trying to sell himself to the highest bidder? Perhaps Umno?" asked Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin ( left ) in a statement today.

Khalid's sacking last year for refusing to give up his post to party president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail triggered the notorious and protracted Selangor menteri besar crisis.

Despite his exit from PKR, he refused to step down claiming he had the state assembly's majority as an independent, although the exact composition of his alleged majority has never been disclosed.

PKR's decision to abide by the Selangor sultan's choice of PKR deputy Azmin Ali to take over as MB finally ended the months-long impasse.

Khalid was reported in Malay Mail Online yesterday offering himself up for the job to help end the current uncertainty over the state government triggered by PAS' muktamar motion to sever ties with Pakatan partner DAP.

He said he would do so if the state assembly would give him a vote of confidence and simple majority, saying he wanted "to ensure that Selangor is administered with transparency, accountability, competency and is free from corruption".

'Look in mirror, Khalid'

Zuraida said Khalid's suggested comeback after the extended political imbroglio was "wishful thinking".

"Khalid Ibrahim should stop embarrassing himself by offering to be the menteri besar again.

"How can he even mention being competent, accountable and transparent when he failed so terribly over the Selangor water deal ?

"Selangorians still remember the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway ( Kidex ) and his out-of-court settlement with Bank Islam," she said.

Khalid's administration was dogged several controversies such as the Kidex highway, that Petaling Jaya residents had vehemently exposed, the rushed signing of the state agreement with Putrajaya to take over water assets and the seizure of Malay bibles from the Bible Society of Malaysia.

"Since Azmin Ali took over as MB, Selangor has progressed and prospered noticeably as compared to before.

"Even racial and religious tensions were handled well with satisfactory outcomes.

"There is no way that Khalid has the slightest chance in taking charge of Selangor again," said Zuraida.

While Khalid, who retains his Pelabuhan Kelang state seat, has remained largely out of the political limelight since stepping down as MB, his appearance at the explosive PAS muktamar ( above ) earlier this month raised eyebrows.

PAS excos also remained by his side during the extended menteri besar crisis last year to allow him to continue to rule the state without the support of PKR and DAP excos.



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