Ahead of Khalid’s meeting with sultan, Wan Azizah promises a better Selangor

Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail says the Pakatan Rakyat government will focus on welfare in Selangor. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, August 25, 2014.

Pitching her case for a better Selangor, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has said that Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim had to be removed in order for the state to be administered in a more efficient manner.

However, the PKR president admitted that Khalid, who is Port Klang assemblyman, has done his best for Selangor folk throughout his tenure as MB of Malaysia's richest state, since assuming the position in 2008.

"Actually, it is good, what Khalid has done. But we want better, a more efficient approach, for us to move forward in a better way," she said in her speech at the Tian Sheng Gong Society’s 40th anniversary celebration in Kapar last night.

Before taking the podium, Dr Wan Azizah's arrival at the anniversary dinner was greeted with loud cheers and applause from more than 1,000 people.

In her speech, Dr Wan Azizah also promised to continue to increase efforts to improve Selangor's economy if she was appointed as MB.

"Selangor is known as the richest state and this means we have to balance out the economy by focusing on the welfare of all. Because of that, investment in Selangor also has to be increased.

"We don't want to have roads with holes, rubbish dumping which causes dengue fever. We want to overcome these problems and what is more important is that our policies prioritise education."

Dr Wan Azizah said that she would also emphasise on the welfare of those who were less fortunate, especially single mothers.

"We want to take care of the disabled and single mothers.

"We will prioritise their welfare as it is really not easy being a single mother. I, myself, have gone through the same thing, taking care of six children when my husband was in prison," she said, referring to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's conviction and imprisonment in 1998.

At the PKR congress at the Melawati Stadium in Shah Alam yesterday, Anwar admitted that Dr Wan Azizah and he were in a dilemma before making the decision to remove Khalid, who was described as a "close friend".

Anwar said that he and his wife had thought of Khalid as "close family" and had initially always defended him when he was attacked by his own party members who complained about Khalid's weaknesses.

But Anwar said he had to make a decision after realising that Khalid's biggest weakness is that he continuously showed an uncaring attitude.

PKR sacked Khalid on August 9 for not heeding the party's orders to make way for Dr Wan Azizah to take over as Selangor MB.

Khalid is meeting the Selangor sultan tomorrow to discuss his position.

- TMI