'Rafizi, Faekah issues no blot on Selangor'

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has downplayed the issue of two recent incidents linked to the Selangor administration led by Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim of the PKR.

Anwar does not see the sudden resignation of PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli from his Selangor government position and the signing of a recommendation letter by Khalid's political secretary's as political crisis.

Anwar, who is also Selangor's economic adviser, said Rafizi resigned from his state post as he wants to focus on party work.

Rafizi had been speaking about resigning since last year, saying his departure from the post should not be viewed as something controversial.

Rafizi would be making a statement today to clarify the situation, Anwar added.

"He is now full-time with the party. He does not think he should be serving the state. Rafizi was already thinking of leaving since last year," Anwar told journalists in Penang yesterday.

'Issues manipulated by Umno media'

The PKR de facto leader also said the issues surrounding Pakatan Rakyat's administration of states are manipulated by the Umno-linked media, where everything "suddenly becomes a major political matter".

"Rafizi did not resign from the party but from the state post because he thinks it is an ethical question," said Anwar, who was on a one-day working trip to Penang.

"He could take it when doing party work for a few hours a day but now he is being dragged all over the country," he added.

"I was with him in Perak recently and he clarified the situation of his resignation."

Rafizi tendered his resignation from his Selangor government post last week, citing he needed to rest. 

Rafizi said his decision to quit as chief executive officer at the Selangor economic adviser's office "has no political dimension to it".

He brushed off claims by sources in the Selangor government that he resigned over disagreements with Khalid.

Anwar looking into Faekah's case

Anwar was also asked about the correspondence between Khalid's political secretary Faekah Husin, a law firm and a Selangor government-linked company.

Khalid sees it as normal and not ethically wrong, saying Faekah's letter was forward to Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd for consideration.

"The next course of action is that of the company, to either accept or reject," Khalid had said.

But Anwar said Khalid had issued instructions that no political leader should write recommendation letters.

He said he had yet to see Faekah's clarification on the matter, but was certainly looking into it.

Asked whether this 'controversy' would tarnish the PKR-led administration in Selangor, Anwar shot back: "One letter of recommendation and you think it can cause the state to collapse?

"What about the RM250 million losses (of National Feedlot Corporation) by those linked to an Umno leader? Is it of no concern?" he asked.

"One letter of recommendation and it becomes a major political crisis!"