Khalid: I still became MB, despite Azmin's attacks

VIDEO 17:48 MINS

INTERVIEW Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim is unfazed by PKR deputy president Azmin Ali's thinly veiled criticism of his administration of the state, saying that despite the political games, he was re-appointed as head of government.

"That's what politics is all about," Khalid said, in response to Azmin'spress conference during which he called for small business approvals to be expedited and grassroots developmental issues in the state to be looked into.

"In spite of all that, I have still been selected as the MB," Khalid said in an interview with Malaysiakini yesterday.

Azmin (left) and his team are said to have issues with the Khalid administration and have expressed their unhappiness over the process involved in the party's selection of Khalid for the MB's post.

"Does BN not have this experience? What I am trying to say is that it is not abnormal (internal bickering).

"Of course, these things were very strange in my (corporate) field before. But I are here because I want to reform," Khalid said, without making any direct reference to Azmin.

He then went on to say that politics in Malaysia has "not matured enough".

"The reason why there is so much decency in the Western system is because they have gone through centuries (of politics). They used go up in arms over certain issues... we have to accept that this is the process," Khalid said.

The 'clowning and bitching'

However, the 66-year-old said only time would tell if what he termed as the "clowning and bitching" would have an impact on the state administration.

"It's only been a week (since his appointment). You can't deliver national development in one week. After a quarter (term), maybe then you can ask if all this clowning and bitching has caused an impact (on the state administration)," Khalid said.

"I believe in the truth. But people say that in politics, it is all about perception. For me, you must equate perception with truth. We should train our voters to differentiate kaki sibuk (busybody) andkaki buat kerja (the hardworking)," he added.

Khalid also denied that he was a product of "Umno cronyism", though he now criticises the culture of cronyism and corruption in the country.

"I was underpaid even. My salary was adequate, but it could have been more. I did it through hard work. You can ask the people in Guthrie, how many man hours I put in the company," he said.

'I have enough money'

He did not take up the MB's position for the money because he is "blessed" to have made enough money during his corporate life.

"Once, I bought up a 200,000-acre palm oil plantation in Indonesia for US$365 million (RM1.1 billion). After five years, the value came to over US$4 billion.

"If I was at Goldman Sachs or JP Morgan, I would get two percent of the incremental profit - which is about US$400 million. But that was not the case," he added.

Studies just before the May 5 general election have shown Khalid's popularity to very high among Selangorians, even higher than national leaders such as Anwar Ibrahim and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

However, Khalid believes that his popularity was not the major reason for Pakatan obtaining two-thirds majority in Selangor in the general election.

"It is possible (MB's popularity as a factor). But I don't see the MB as an individual leader. I see in terms of the team that administers the state.

"I believe there is some momentum in the popularity, but I don't think it had any huge impact on the decision made by the rakyat," Khalid added. -Mkini