Pakatan ready to keep Selangor, says Khalid

The Selangor mentri besar waits to distribute ang pow to children during Chinese New Year celebrations in Pandamaran. – Pic by Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

KLANG, Feb 9 – Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim declared tonight that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) was confident it can retain the Selangor state government based on its performance since taking power in 2008.

The Selangor mentri besar added that DAP, PAS and PKR must work as a team with the aim of defending public welfare.

“This Chinese New Year gives us inspiration to work hard because we believe that the public will give us support if we perform our task efficiently, fair and clean,” he told a crowd of over 800 during a Chinese New Year celebration in Ronnie Liu’s constituency of Pandamaran.

He also stressed that PR must defend its stronghold in Klang through ensuring proper development and provide assistance to those in need.

Khalid’s presence can be viewed as a boost to Liu’s credibility as the mentri besar is facing mounting pressure to drop the controversial DAP leader and reshuffle his state executive committee.

Selangor PR backbenchers as well as other state government leaders have been pressing the mentri besar in that direction.

The Malaysian Insider understands that they are unhappy with his handling of the local housing and government portfolio and for making announcements that undermine state policies.

A government source said that PR backbenchers have approached Khalid, and are waiting for his decision on the matter.

Khalid has promised to look into the matter but has not indicated a reshuffle is imminent.

Liu has been embroiled in several controversies — most notably the 1 Malaysia billboard ban and a local council’s ruling prohibiting Muslims from working in premises which sell alcohol.

The Pandamaran assemblyman recently announced a ban on 1 Malaysia logos, saying that state by-laws only permitted political banners at business premises if local councils did not view them as “propaganda”.

The move was criticised by both Barisan Nasional (BN) as well as PR leaders.

Khalid then intervened to end the debacle, saying that there was actually no ban and that the matter was just “confusion.”

The Selangor MB said that only state government linked companies (GLCs) were barred from using the 1 Malaysia logo, claiming that his administration had never banned restaurants or business premises from putting it up.

Similarly, Liu had opposed Subang Jaya Municipal Council’s (MPSJ) ruling regarding Muslims working in outlets that serve alcohol.

While the MPSJ said that the ruling had been in place since January 1, 2010, Liu insisted that Selangor did not agree to it.

Khalid then clarified the matter, saying that there was no ban and that the ruling was actually a guideline for business premises. - Malaysian Insider