Khalid's position as MB tied
to Kajang polls

A political observer says although the political strategy via the 'Kajang Move' to hoist PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as Menteri Besar had failed, Khalid may still be replaced as Selangor Menteri Besar.

The outcome of the Kajang by-election tomorrow may lead to an end to the tenure of Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as the Selangor Menteri Besar.

The Port Klang state assemblyman must surely be restless as a win for Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) here could lead to his relinquishing the state’s leadership.

Universiti Putra Malaysia Human Ecology Faculty lecturer Dr Amini Amir Abdullah said although the political strategy, via the “Kajang Move”, to hoist PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as Menteri Besar had come to nought, Khalid was not in the clear yet.

He said this was because his political enemies surely had something up their sleeves when naming PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the candidate to replace Anwar.

Amini Amir felt the mission to oust Khalid would not stop with the annihilation of the Kajang Move, but would become more complex leading into PKR’s polls in May.

Confident that Khalid knows he was being eliminated in a subtle way has left many puzzled as to why the Khalid feels his position was secure.

Khalid needs to state his stand on plot to topple him 

Khalid still needs to state his stand when tackling the plot to topple him because of the expectations of the people.

Amini Amir said if Khalid opts to accept the prevailing circumstances as a mark of respect for Anwar, who brought him into politics, he should also respect the stand of PAS and DAP, who held him in high esteem to nominate him for the post of Menteri Besar.

“We wonder why Khalid keeps mum despite being aware of the plot to oust him? He was made Menteri Besar based on the hope the people had in him. This cannot be overlooked.”

It is not like Khalid had not ignored Anwar when making a decision, and the agreement to restructure the water industry in Selangor with the federal government recently showed the Jeram-born can actually reject the sentiment of being beholden for the sake of the people.

Amini Amir said Khalid must delve into the anger of the people outside of the context of politics, because changes to the post of Menteri Besar can disrupt the smooth planning and administration of the state government and, in fact, a worse scenario can take place, such as jostling for posts.

He said the 39,278 voters in the by-election tomorrow must show their solidarity and confidence in the administration of  Khalid by rejecting the candidate who has the potential to trigger this situation.

The contest for the Kajang state seat, that fell vacant following the resignation of incumbent assemblymen Lee Chin Cheh of PKR on Jan 27, will see Dr Wan Azizah facing Barisan Nasional candidate Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun at the polls tomorrow.

BERNAMA ENGLISH ONLINE: 22 Mac 2014

Voters Must Reject Opposition Candidate To Maintain Status Quo In Selangor - Political Observer

By: Mohd Yusof Shaari

KAJANG, March 22 (Bernama) -- To many, the outcome of the Kajang State Assembly by-election tomorrow may not mean anything, but not to Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Regarded as a well-liked Menteri Besar in the context of the development of Selangor, the Port Klang State Assemblyman must surely be restless because a positive result for Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) can drag him down from the leadership of the state.

Although the political strategy via the 'Kajang Step' to hoist Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as Menteri Besar was fully scuppered, the situation is not safe yet for Abdul Khalid because his political enemies surely had something up their sleeves when naming Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the candidate to replace Anwar.

Dr Amini Amir Abdullah from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), feels the mission to oust Abdul Khalid would not stop with the annihilation of the Kajang Step, but on the other hand it would become more complex.

He said Anwar and his team, especially Bukit Antarabangsa State Assemblyman Azmin Ali, whose hostilities with Abdul Khalid is public knowledge, would not have nominated Dr Wan Azizah just to replace her husband.

Confident that Abdul Khalid knows he was being eliminated in a subtle way, the Human Ecology Faculty lecturer was however, puzzled as to why the Menteri Besar feels his position was secure.

Apart from trying to portray himself as a firm administrator and leader who is prepared to face any eventualities, Abdul Khalid still needs to state his stand firmly when tackling the plot to topple him because of the expectation of the people, he said.

Amini Amir said if Abdul Khalid opts to accept the prevailing circumstances as a mark of respect for Anwar who brought him into the political arena, the successful businessman should also respect the stand of PAS and DAP who held him in high esteem to nominate him for the post of Menteri Besar.

"We also wonder why Abdul Khalid keeps mum despite being aware of the plot to oust him? I admit Abdul Khalid is a resolute man, but the hope of the people in him cannot be overlooked," he told Bernama when contacted here, today.

Based on record, it is not like Abdul Khalid had not ignored Anwar when making a decision, and the agreement to restructure the water industry in Selangor with the federal government recently showed the Jeram-born can actually reject the sentiment of being beholden for the sake of the people under his administration.

Amini Amir said Abdul Khalid must delve into the anger of the people outside of the context of politics, because changes to the post of Menteri Besar can disrupt the smooth planning and administration of the state government and in fact, a worse scenario can take place, such as jostling for posts.

He said the 39,278 qualified voters in the by-election tomorrow must show their solidarity and confidence in the administration of Abdul Khalid by rejecting the candidate who has a potential of triggering the situation.

"The voters must be smart, don't be trapped by the trick of the opposition pact. They must be brave in rejecting the candidate who has the potential of becoming a puppet of Anwar and probably made the Menteri Besar of Selangor," he said.

He said, if it happens, the administration of the state will become chaotic because Dr Wan Azizah is seen as somebody who is not capable of handling the heavy responsibility of being Menteri Besar.

The contest for the Kajang state seat that fell vacant following the resignation of incumbent assemblymen Lee Chin Cheh of PKR on Jan 27, will see Dr Wan Azizah, who is also the president of PKR, facing Barisan Nasional candidate Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun.

-- BERNAMA

BERNAMA: 22 Mac 2014

PRK Kajang: Kekalkan Menteri Besar, Tolak Calon Boneka - Pemerhati Politik

Oleh: Mohd Yusof Shaari

KAJANG, 22 Mac (Bernama) -- Mungkin ramai menganggap keputusan pilihan raya kecil Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kajang esok tidak membawa sebarang makna dari segi kedudukan kerusi DUN Selangor, tetapi mungkin tidak bagi Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Dilabel sebagai menteri besar yang 'cukup disenangi' dalam konteks membangunkan Selangor, Anggota Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Pelabuhan Klang itu tentunya gelisah kerana keputusan positif diperoleh PKR mampu mengheretnya turun dari teraju kepimpinan negeri.

Walaupun cetusan strategi politik melalui 'Langkah Kajang' untuk menempatkan Penasihat PKR Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sebagai menteri besar dilihat gagal setakat ini, Abdul Khalid belum selamat kerana 'musuh politiknya' tentu merancang sesuatu apabila menamakan isteri Anwar Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail sebagai calon.

Dr Amini Amir Abdullah dari Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) berpendapat misi menyingkirkan Abdul Khalid tidak mungkin terhenti sebaliknya akan bertambah kompleks.

Beliau berkata Anwar dan pasukan pemikirnya, terutama Adun Bukit Antarabangsa Mohamed Azmin Ali, yang perseteruannya dengan Abdul Khalid diketahui umum, tentunya tidak akan mencalonkan Dr Wan Azizah jika sekadar menggantikan suaminya.

Yakin bahawa Abdul Khalid tahu dirinya sedang disingkirkan secara halus, Pensyarah Fakulti Ekologi Manusia itu bagaimanapun hairan mengapa menteri besar itu tidak menyatakan pendiriannya.

"Walaupun cuba menonjolkan karakter sebagai seorang yang tabah dan bersedia menghadapi sebarang kemungkinan, Abdul Khalid tetap perlu menyatakan pendiriannya secara lebih tegas dalam menangani komplot menjatuhkannya demi harapan rakyat," katanya.

Amini Amir berkata jika Abdul Khalid memilih untuk pasrah sebagai tanda hormat, khususnya kepada Anwar yang membawanya ke arena politik, ahli perniagaan berjaya itu perlu juga menghormati pendirian PAS dan DAP yang sepakat meletakkannya di kerusi menteri besar.

"Kita tentu tertanya-tanya kenapa Abdul Khalid membisu walaupun beliau sebenarnya tahu komplot untuk menggulingkannya?. Saya akui Abdul Khalid seorang yang tabah, namun harapan rakyat terhadapnya tidak boleh dikesampingkan begitu sahaja," katanya kepada Bernama ketika dihubungi.

Berdasarkan rekod, Abdul Khalid bukan tidak pernah membelakangkan Anwar dalam membuat keputusan, contohnya perjanjian penstrukturan semula industri air Selangor yang ditandatangani bersama kerajaan persekutuan baru-baru ini menunjukkan anak kelahiran Jeram itu sebenarnya boleh menolak sentimen 'terhutang budi' demi kebaikan rakyat di bawah pentadbirannya.

Amini Amir berkata Abdul Khalid perlu menyelami rasa gusar rakyat di luar konteks politik kerana perubahan jawatan menteri besar boleh mengganggu kelancaran perancangan dan pentadbiran kerajaan negeri, malah keadaan lebih buruk seperti perebutan jawatan mungkin terjadi.

Beliau berkata bagi mengelak keadaan itu daripada berlaku, 39,278 pemilih yang layak mengundi dalam pilihan raya kecil DUN Kajang Ahad ini perlu menunjukkan solidariti dan keyakinan mereka ke atas pentadbiran Abdul Khalid dengan menolak calon yang berpotensi mencetuskan situasi tersebut.

"Pengundi mesti bijak, jangan terperangkap dengan helah pakatan pembangkang. Mereka harus berani menolak calon yang berpotensi menjadi boneka Anwar untuk diletakkan di kerusi Menteri Besar Selangor," katanya.

Pilihan raya kecil DUN Kajang menyaksikan pertembungan satu lawan satu antara Dr Wan Azizah yang juga Presiden PKR dan calon Barisan Nasional (BN) Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun.

-- BERNAMA