Most Selangor Pakatan reps have signed sworn statements backing Wan Azizah for MB

It is understood that at least 32 Selangor assemblymen from Pakatan Rakyat have backed Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for the Menteri Besar post. – The Malaysian Insider pic, August 12, 2014.

At least 32 Selangor Pakatan Rakyat (PR) assemblymen have signed sworn statements citing their loss of confidence in Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and pledging support for PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to take over as the Selangor Menteri Besar.

All 15 DAP, four PAS and 13 PKR reps have signed the statements in support of Dr Wan Azizah, raising serious questions on Khalid's assertion before the Sultan of Selangor yesterday that he has the support of the majority of the state assembly.

Sources from DAP and PAS also told The Malaysian Insider that with the sworn statements, it is puzzling how Khalid still claimed to have the majority support of the assemblymen. There are 56 seats in the legislative assembly.

A DAP leader confirmed that the party's Selangor assemblymen signed the sworn statement on Sunday but for now, they have no plans to publicly use it to compel Khalid to step down.

PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail did not confirm or deny the existence of the sworn statement when contacted by The Malaysian Insider.

"We will issue a statement after this. We need to talk to the party leaders," he said when asked about the existence of such documents.

Saifuddin stressed there was a need for a discussion before any stand could be announced as a result of the latest development.

DAP's Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San said such a mechanism existed but they are still waiting for directive from the central leadership.

Meanwhile, a PAS source confirmed that four of its 15 Selangor representatives have signed the document, pledging their support for Dr Wan Azizah as the MB.

Khalid said he explained his position during a two-hour meeting with the Selangor Royal Council and the Selangor Sultan at the Istana Alam Shah, Klang, yesterday on his position as the Selangor MB.

"I explained that despite my sacking as a PKR member, I still command the confidence of the majority of the assemblymen," the Port Klang assemblyman had said, adding that the sultan was satisfied with the explanation and consented that he carry on as Selangor MB.

"Until there are new developments, I still remain the menteri besar of Selangor and will carry out my duties like normal."‎

Barring Khalid, who was sacked from PKR for refusing to make way for Dr Wan Azizah, PR now holds 43 seats in the 56-seat assembly. PKR now has 13 seats, PAS and DAP 15 each, while rival Umno holds 12.

Khalid is now an independent assemblyman but it is not known whether he will join any other political parties later.

The move to replace Khalid was initiated by PKR following numerous complaints against him for running the state unilaterally without consulting PKR as well as the national PR leadership.

He had also been criticised for his handling of issues, such as water rationing, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department's seizure of Bibles in Malay and Iban, and the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex), which upset some Pakatan leaders as it was seen as going against the pact's election manifesto to abolish tolled highways.

Dr Wan Azizah, who won the Kajang by-election earlier this year, has been endorsed by PKR as the candidate for the Selangor MB post and a consensus was reached at the PR leadership council meeting two weeks ago.

But, Khalid has remained adamant that he would not step down as MB, saying he will serve his full term.

The former corporate leader was issued a show-cause letter by PKR last Tuesday for going against the party's decision on his replacement, before he was sacked on August 9.

- TMI