'Loyal to PKR, not Azmin' MB brushes aside alleged plot against him

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari has brushed aside an alleged plot to remove him and stressed that he is loyal to PKR and not former deputy president Azmin Ali.

"After the long political crisis at the federal level (last week), we ought to be worried that we have lost (the federal government). However, political discussions and rumours seem to persist.

"What is important is a majority of assemblypersons are with me today [...] but I can't stop what people say or any political moves they want to make.

"But we ought to 'insaf' (repent) especially after what happened at the federal level," he told a press conference at his official residence in Shah Alam today.

Earlier, Amirudin announced that five Bersatu assemblypersons as well as two PKR assemblypersons – Azmin and Gombak Setia assemblyperson Hilman Idham – would be expelled from the state government following their collaboration with Perikatan Nasional.

This led to Harapan's collapse at the federal government.

The menteri besar said Selangor remained under Harapan as it had a 43-seat supermajority in the 56-seat legislative assembly.

In a show of strength and solidarity, Amirudin was flanked today by a large number of Harapan assemblypersons. However, notably absent were PKR's Idris Ahmad (Ijok), Rodziah Ismail (Batu Tiga) and Syamsul Firdaus (Taman Medan).

When contacted, Syamsul told Malaysiakini that he had been in a meeting with local residents that began at the same time as the press conference.

Idris and Rodziah had yet to respond at the time of publication.

Campaign to purge traitors unnecessary

Amirudin, a known close ally of Azmin, said he has set aside personal allegiances and remained loyal to PKR.

"I am with him as long as he is with the party. But when he leaves the party, I will toe the party line.

"I will be with PKR in line with my promise during my campaign in the (GE14) election. I am a party man," he added.

Pressed if he was concerned about a campaign within the party to purge "traitors" - understood as those aligned to Azmin - the menteri besar remarked that such a campaign is unnecessary.

"We have already fired them. We have fired Hilman, we have fired (former vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin's aide) Nor Hizwan Ahmad, we have fired Zuraida and others [...]

"The campaign is too late," he added. - Mkini