PETALING JAYA: Selangor PKR said yesterday it was backing PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to replace Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as the Selangor menteri besar, clarifying another statement issued at the same press conference also supporting PKR deputy president Azmin Ali for the post.
Selangor PKR deputy chairman Zuraida Kamaruddin, who held the press conference with several of the party’s leaders at the central, state and divisional levels as well as its Selangor elected representatives, expressed full backing for Dr Wan Azizah.
“It is our hope that with Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah as the menteri besar, the leadership crisis that has dragged on until today will be resolved,” said Zuraida, who is the MP for Ampang.
Some confusion prevailed at the press conference called to state Selangor PKR’s stand on the Selangor menteri besar issue when the two statements were released to the media.
At the outset of the press conference, a statement was issued that expressed support for the PKR Central Leadership Council which had named Dr Wan Azizah as the candidate to replace Abdul Khalid.
As the press conference was going on, an unidentified individual substituted the statement with one stating that the Selangor Leadership Council proposed two names for the post of menteri besar, the other being Azmin’s.
After the press conference, Kapar MP G Manivannan of PKR, when approached by reporters, said he suspected sabotage when the second press statement appeared.
He advised the reporters to use the first statement that backed Dr Wan Azizah.
Meanwhile, Zuraida said that Abdul Khalid had until Friday to respond to the show-cause letter PKR had issued to him over his alleged refusal to abide by the decision of the party’s Central Leadership Council to step down as the menteri besar.
“After Abdul Khalid has replied to the letter, the Central Leadership Council will hold a special meeting on Saturday to discuss his response. Abdul Khalid has to abide by the council’s decision and step down amicably,” she said. — Bernama