Selangor MB refuses to attend PKR’s disciplinary hearing (UDPATED WITH LETTER)
(The Star) – Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim is angry and does not want to attend PKR’s disciplinary meeting today to answer allegations levelled against him. The Mentri Besar says he does not like the way PKR is treating him.
Instead, Khalid said he would reply to all allegations via a letter to the disciplinary committee at 10am today. He refused to elaborate on the contents though.
“But I will let the people know after I’ve submitted the letter,” he told reporters after a special prayer at the Mentri Besar’s official residence here yesterday.
Committee chairman Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong said Khalid was asked to attend the 3pm hearing today at the PKR headquarters. Alternatively, he could attend the hearing tomorrow afternoon.
Tan said Khalid had to explain allegations that were outlined in a 24-page report released by the party, which explained why he should not remain as the Mentri Besar.
The allegations centred on his handling of the Selangor water restructuring agreement, the out-of-court settlement with Bank Islam and the proposal for a new highway — the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex).
Sources close to Khalid said he vowed to fight any attempt by the party to replace him with PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
They hoped that the mentri besar’s fight would be strengthened if PAS, whose central committee meets next week, decides to back him.
They said ironically, it was PAS that wanted Khalid removed in January but changed its stand after the Kajang Move, planned to make PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim the new Mentri Besar.
However, Anwar’s plan to contest in the Kajang by-election was thwarted when he was sentenced to five years in prison for sodomy. His wife, Dr Wan Azizah, then stood in his place.
The sources said the only solution to get PAS to agree to removing Khalid would be to opt for a compromise candidate, such as Ijok assemblyman Dr Idris Ahmad.
However, Sri Muda and Batu Caves assemblymen Shuhaimi Shafiei and Amirudin Shari issued a joint statement requesting that Azmin Ali be named as a potential candidate in addition to Dr Wan Azizah.
