PKR feud worsens with Azmin taking over Selangor

By Wani Muttiah, The Star

SHAH ALAM: The PKR leadership feud has taken a turn for the worse with Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim quitting as the party’s state chief.

His arch-rival Azmin Ali, who is said to have mounted a mutiny to gain control of Selangor, has taken over instead.

Khalid stayed away from the first day of the party’s retreat here and was absent for the most of the first half of yesterday’s proceedings, sparking rumours that he was in a defiant mood.

The change in the state party leadership is seen by many as a compromise to stop the attacks against Khalid by Azmin’s supporters which had gained momentum in the last week following Azmin’s resignation as Selangor State Development Corporation director.

The group of 15 PKR MPs had openly said they wanted Khalid removed as mentri besar, claiming that he had failed to look after the interests of grassroots leaders and supporters.

This latest development does not augur well for Selangor PKR, with the state chief and mentri besar at loggerheads with each other.

Party adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who announced the change at the end of the retreat yesterday, said Khalid himself had asked not to be burdened with party responsibilities so that he could concentrate more on state affairs.

The development was seen by many as a systematic move by certain movers in PKR to deny Khalid his political base in view of the party’s election in November.

“Nominations for party election are going to start soon.

“This change is very timely as it will ensure that Khalid will never be able to secure support to go for top party posts, especially the deputy presidency,” said one party insider.

Khalid when met at the end of the retreat said the change would work out well for him.

“I can now concentrate on my responsibilities. I have a lot of work – many investment activities to take care of. I will be taking over Selangor water management and the cleaning of the Selangor river,” he said.

Azmin said being appointed as the state chief was a coming home of sorts for him.

He was Selangor party chief before being appointed as the Federal Territory chief.

The change, he said, was actually the party’s move to redistribute political responsibilities to ease Khalid’s burden.

“Tan Sri Khalid will concentrate on the development of the state and economy, and I will take care of party matters in Selangor,’’ said Azmin.

He said his approach might differ from Khalid’s but they shared a similar philosophy and ideology.

Azmin is allegedly behind the group of 15 MPs who were out to topple Khalid.

Azmin’s position as a Federal Territory party chief has been taken over by PKR supreme council member Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.