Selangor matters not your business, Khalid tells PKR disciplinary board (UPDATED)
(Malay Mail Online) – The PKR disciplinary board has no purview over how the Selangor mentri besar administers the state, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has said in his reply to the show-cause letter the party slapped on him for refusing to relinquish his post.
In his official response that labelled the show-cause action against him as “defective” yesterday, Khalid pointed out that the board was not authorised to demand explanations over five issues pertaining to his administration.
“The disciplinary board is only empowered to hear matters relating to misconduct relating to party matters and not matters pertaining to, and especially not how Selangor is administered.
“As such, it is illogical for the disciplinary board to demand that I explain the five issues in such short notice,” Khalid said.
In the show-cause issued against him, Khalid was directed to explain his Bank Islam debt settlement deal, his role and decisions in Selangor’s water utility restructuring, the MB’s new allowance, the hike in business licence fees in the state and the controversial Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex).
The party also insisted that Khalid must respond by August 9, one day ahead of a crucial Pakatan Rakyat meeting to decide on his removal.
In the letter made available on the SelangorKu website, Khalid pointed out that the board neglected to specify his specific misconduct relating to the five issues raised, saying it was impossible for him to defend against the vague accusations.
He also complained that he was given less than 24 hours to present himself before the first offered hearing slot scheduled for today, saying the short notice was unreasonable and unfair.
“As a party that professes to fight for justice, I should be given a real chance and not the illusion of defending myself, if there are truly issues of misconduct against me,” he added.
After drawing parallels between PKR’s decision to haul him up on short notice with party chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s complaints of the Court of Appeal’s rush to hear the challenge against the latter’s acquittal for sodomy, Khalid “humbly” offered to appear before the board on August 15.
PKR disciplinary committee chairman Tan Kee Kwong yesterday declined to explain the apparent haste for Khalid to answer to the show-cause, saying only that it was “urgent” and that the mentri besar should be able to “make time to meet [his] friends.”
He also evaded questions on whether Khalid’s hearing was being expedited to pre-empt a crucial Pakatan Rakyat (PR) presidential meeting Sunday over the Selangor leadership crisis.
PR parties are now in open conflict after PAS backed out of purported agreement with PKR and DAP to consider replacing Khalid with PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.