KUALA LUMPUR, 10 July: The Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, explained that any change of the Selangor Chief Minister has to be done in consensus with PAS and DAP because the position is not private property.
He said that the position is the mandate given by the people through the party, which also involves the party election process.
“It is not a matter of choosing to accept the demands of some people or to maintain this position because it is not anyone’s personal seat. This seat is the mandate from the people through the party and through the party election process.
“In the context of Pakatan Rakyat, although the seat is the PKR Chief Minister’s seat, we have to negotiate and reach a consensus with DAP and PAS before we can defend the spirit of cooperation,” he said at the Selangor Royal Club yesterday.
He acknowledged that this lingering controversy may have an impact on the state’s administration and development.
He said that the services and sacrifices made by Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim in upholding the prestige of Selangor should be seen because the governance practiced all this while has never been done by other Chief Minister, including those from Barisan Nasional (BN).
“I do not agree with the way Members of Parliament and Assemblymen are attacking him.
“When attacks become political polemics, it does not give justice to issues involved and Khalid’s contribution, especially to Selangor. He has greatly sacrificed to uplift the state,” he said.
At the same time, the former Chairman of Bersih 2.0, Datuk S Ambiga, who was also present, expressed concern with the developments taking place in Selangor and hopes that the crisis can be resolved quickly.
Recently, there has been pressure for the Port Klang Assemblyman to resign so that he can be replaced by ‘a more qualified individual’.
However, Abdul Khalid stands by his stance to not make any speculation, including allegations that he will be replaced by a motion of no confidence.
NS
