PKR mulls options on Selangor MB crisis, leadership meeting tomorrow

PKR leaders are expected to meet tomorrow to discuss the Selangor MB crisis. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, August 8, 2014.

PKR is mulling its options to end the Selangor Menteri Besar crisis, including a key meeting between senior Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders and Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, and also to ensure all state lawmakers back its stand.

A key PKR leadership meeting will be held tomorrow to discuss all views on the matter, the party's Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin said today, after PAS said it would push its decision on the issue to August 17.

He said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has also been briefed on an eight-eye meeting suggested by Pakatan youth wings, between Anwar, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang and Khalid, as the best way to end the crisis.

"He was open to the idea and we hope to schedule a meeting in the nearest possible time," he told reporters before leaving  the party headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.

PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution also confirmed that a statutory declaration (SD) was sent to all PKR lawmakers in Selangor as a measure prepared for any future possibilities, but declined to elaborate.

The Malaysian Insider reported that at least 12 of the 14 PKR lawmakers have been asked to sign the sworn statement and hand it over to Anwar before 10am today.

It was not known if all of them had done so.

Khalid has been under pressure from party leaders to relinquish his MB post and make way for party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Khalid has received support from several senior PAS leaders, including Hadi and spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat. The party's clerics also issued a statement disagreeing with the plan to remove Khalid, just days before PAS central committee members were to have met this weekend.

Khalid's refusal to quit earned him a show cause letter from PKR's disciplinary board.

PKR leaders have cited several reasons for removing Khalid, including his decision to agree to Putrajaya's water restructuring plan as well as a privatised tolled highway in conflict with Pakatan's election manifesto.

But Khalid, in his reply today to the show cause letter, said state matters were not under the purview of the party's disciplinary board.

- TMI