Monday, August 11, 2014

Selangor MB crisis: Opposition politicians speak up, criticise Khalid for holding on to power


Opposition politicians have come out strongly against Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim for holding on to the reins of power despite being having been expelled from PKR on Saturday.
"I am just shocked. He is now a party-less leader. Whose mandate is he exercising now? The Sultan should have consulted the other parties as well. The whole thing doesn't sound right. What is the basis of such a decision?" said Klang MP Charles Santiago.
"We have to wait and see what our party leaders are preparing to do. We will wait for that. He is a leader without a party, so whose mandate are you implementing as the Mentri Besar?" he added.
Similar views were shared by Sungai Siput's PSM MP, Michael Jeyakumar who said that it was "very sad" that the situation in Selangor had come to this.
"I think it is very sad it has come to this, because we want to run our states in a way that gives people confidence in Pakatan Rakyat – and this is definitely not doing that. This is very sad to see because we need a change of government. It is sad to see that the best alternative available is shooting himself in both feet," said Jeyakumar.
On Monday, after meeting Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, Khalid had said that he would remain as Mentri Besar, and any executive councillor who declined to work with him could resign.
"I won't be leaving. If the exco members don't agree with me, they can leave. I will remain Mentri Besar until further developments," Khalid had said.
PSM secretary-general S. Arutchelvan, meanwhile, said the issue had to be resolved by Pakatan Rakyat, failing which state elections should be called.
"A Mentri Besar cannot run the state with minority support, therefore it is important for the state assembly to sit and check support. I hope Pakatan can resolve this before going for a state assembly vote," said Arul, who was PSM's Semenyih candidate in the 13th general election.

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