Selangor MB's pol sec under fire over grants

After a blistering round of factionalism that ended with Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim bowing out as Selangor PKR chief in 2010, warring factions in the state seem to be at it again. 

This time the MB appears to be left relatively unscathed - but his political secretary Faekah Husin is coming under heavy fire.

Seemingly petty at first, the online campaign against Faekah under the name Kami Sayangkan PKR (We Love PKR), piqued interest with an apparent endorsement of it by PKR deputy president Azmin Ali. 

Azmin, who succeeded Khalid as Selangor PKR chief, last week re-tweeted a posting calling for Faekah to be "sacked", raising speculation of an open war within the party in Selangor. 

Asked about this, the MP for Gombak made light of the matter, saying he had "accidentally" done so.

However, Azmin went on to add that complaints about Faekah have been aplenty, amassing for months "and from civil servants" as well.

"We have told the complainants that unless they lodge formal complaints and adduce evidence in support, there is little the party and the MB can do," said Azmin, who reiterated his support for Khalid.

The PKR No 2 chose not to reveal what the complaints were about but said similar complaints against the feisty political secretary even came from as far as Sabah. 

Faekah, who has not held any party position since her appointment as political secretary to the MB in June 2010, was said to have been facing the sack in March as a result of pressure from within the party. 

High-level sources in PKR confirmed that complaints against Faekah were raised in several political bureau meetings, but no action has been taken as yet.

One insider told Malaysiakini that those against Faekah are "disgruntled people" who see her as an "obstruction".

"She's an obstruction to whatever they want to get - whether projects, funding or political leverage. She's stopping most of that... I think some people don't like that she's influential with Tan Sri Khalid," the insider said. 

Grumbles over grants

Formerly an aide to PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Faekah's detractors accuse her of having an overbearing and rigid personality and that she does not consider the political implications of a situation.

The Twitter account @PecatFaekah (Sack Faekah), which appears to be run by the same group behind the Azmin Ali Club, is particularly sore about disbursements under Geran Selangorku, a development programme for the people of Selangor managed by Menteri Besar Incorporated. 

"We can no longer compromise with the fake Geran Selangorku'steering committee', which is actually controlled by the three witches," says a tweet on the account, referring to Faekah and two other staff members in the MB's office.

It also called upon Azmin, PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin and Selangor PKR information chief Shuhaimi Shafie (left) to monitor the disbursements for local development projects underGeran Selangorku, which is funded by debts recovered from property developer Talam Corporation Bhd.

Asked about this, Shuhaimi, who is also Sri Muda assemblyperson, said the @PecatFaekah campaign "could be because one or two are unhappy that the projects they proposed were not selected".

Denying involvement in or any knowledge of the campaign, Shuhami said he has no problem because a large portion of his proposed projects have been approved. 

He said the projects under Geran Selangorku are proposed by elected representatives and selected by a steering committee of civil servants, then tendered out and implemented in phases by the local authorities. 

The steering committee is headed by Selangor Housing and Properties Board executive director Alinah Ahmad and includes officers from MB Incorporated and the Works Department.

Asked for details of their claims, those behind @PecatFaekahrefused to speak, citing party discipline and the need for "subtlety". 

'Naughty boys'

Faekah, on the other hand, stressed that the person with the final say on the grants is the MB himself, and that his decisions are based on recommendations made by civil servants. 

"If I alone can control a whole bunch of professionals, then I have to admit that I'm really good!" she joked.

On the complaints from people within the party, she said she has never had to answer to any show-cause letter from the party and that the MB himself has instructed her to "ignore" the campaign against her. 

"(The MB) considers them naughty boys who like to play around with Twitter and Facebook," she said, casually.

Faekah takes the infighting lightly, brushing off suggestions that it would have an adverse impact on the coming general election.

"When it comes to elections, we unite. Our main goal is to maintain Selangor and move on to Putrajaya, where there will be ample space and opportunities for everybody," she said.