KUALA LUMPUR: A GREATER dissension among opposition leaders is likely after Pas expressed support for Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to be retained as menteri besar, in a move expected to result in a clash of interest between Selangor leaders.
Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang yesterday voiced his desire to see Khalid continue steering Selangor as menteri besar, saying that he had never betrayed the trust of the people.
Hadi said there was never a need to replace Khalid in the first place since the day he took office in 2008.
“If Khalid is involved in any scandal, breach of trust or misappropriation of government funds, then it is a given that he must be replaced. “But if he is at fault for other rea sons, there is no need to change the menteri besar,” said Hadi, when met at his house in Rusila, Marang.
On Monday night PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim chaired the party’s supreme council meeting and announced that his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is party president, had been proposed as Khalid’s succes sor.
A PKR source also said that the change of guard was likely to take place after Hari Raya Aidilfitri as party leaders were seeking an au dience with the Sultan of Selangor on the matter.
The sources also mentioned that several efforts had been undertaken to remove Khalid, including the en gineering of the Kajang by-election.
“Among the reasons stated is Khalid’s refusal to provide lucrative business projects to those from the opposition coalition through the backdoor.”
While Pas had no plans to invite Khalid to join Pas over the furore, Hadi said the opposition coalition should let Khalid complete his term before the next general election.
He also suggested that PKR should be appreciative that Pas had allowed the former to take the lead in Selangor, although Pas won more state seats than PKR in the state.
“It is also wrong to replace some one who had worked so hard to manage the state and retain it dur ing the 13th General Election.”
“At the same time, that is not our (coalition) way (to trigger an ouster). Our spirit of coalition goes beyond that. For example, although Pas won more seats (15) than PKR (14), we let them have the menteri besar post because we already have one in Kelantan,” said Hadi.
He hoped that all Pas leaders shared a similar stand, although at least one, vice-president Salahuddin Ayub, appeared uneasy when asked to comment.
“I have to give him a call on this matter. I just want to make sure,” said Salahuddin when contacted. At Press time, he had yet to return the call for comment from the New Straits Times.
On Wednesday, Pas ulama council information chief Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali at-Takiri without mincing words said there was no reason to remove Khalid ac cording to Islamic law.
The Kuala Nerus parliamentarian during a ceramah in Bukit Naga, Shah Alam posed several questions to the audience.
“Khalid is now a menteri besar in a state governed by Islamic admin istration. Is he involved in bribery? Has he ever abused government funds? Is he an adulterer? Is he an apostate? Has he ever claimed the rights or property of others?”
All of the questions were an swered with a resounding, “No.”
“If the answer is ‘no’ (to all of the questions), then he is not to be re moved, or there is no reason to drop him according to Islamic law.”
“There are so many other issues such as Kidex (Kinrara-Damansara Expressway) and the (inconsistent) water supply to be addressed instead,” said Khairuddin.
Pas ulama council acting deputy chief Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed said although DAP and PKR had en dorsed a replacement for Khalid, they needed Pas’ agreement to im plement the change.
“Furthermore, I know for a fact that his (Khalid) replacement (Dr Wan Azizah) is not well-liked by all. The same goes for the other one (PKR deputy president Azmin Ali).
“But you see, the people still sup port Khalid because he has done a good job. He prefers to work rather then getting involved in politick ing,” said Mahfodz.
National Professors’ Council po litical cluster secretary Prof Datuk Abdul Halim Sidek said it was im portant to note that Pas’ support for Khalid was made in earnest in line with the Islamic party’s poli cies.
“They truly believe in Khalid. You look at his track record and you will see that he is clean.”
Halim said the only strategy Pas could employ to counter Khalid’s ouster, was to gather support from the 12 Barisan Nasional assemblymen at the state legislative assembly.
“The BN assemblymen may do this to spite Anwar.
“At the same time, I guess they will go against the no-confidence vote (if any) because of (Prime Minister Datuk Seri) Najib’s (Razak) endorsement for Khalid’s willingness to cooperate with the Federal Government.”
Meanwhile, Khalid thanked Hadi for supporting him even though his own party was trying to throw him out.
“The support from Pas means a lot to me. As we all know Selangor, as the most developed state in the country, needs political stability to survive and prosper.
“With this show of support, I pledge, with the backing of the state executive councillors, to ensure that Pakatan continues to deliver our 13th General Election promises to the people,” he said at a breaking of fast event with the Sultan of Selan gor in Kapar, yesterday.
-NST
