Kajang by-election: PAS does not want Anwar to replace Khalid as MB

PETALING JAYA: PAS has continued its attacks on PKR's move to force a by-election in Kajang by fielding its top leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, an attempt allegedly to replace its Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

PAS Dewan Ulamak information chief Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said that the position of Mentri Besar was a decision made by the Islamist party, through its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

"Continuously questioning Khalid as a Mentri Besar means that they are questioning our president's intelligence," said Khairuddin, in a strongly-worded statement Wednesday.

He blamed the latest fiasco on "some PKR leaders" who failed to fulfil their personal interests under Khalid, who was known to be firm in managing the state finance.

Khairuddin was confident that the real reason behind the move was to replace the Mentri Besar by PKR and to avoid the position being taken up by PAS.

By right, the Mentri Besar position belongs to PAS as it held the majority of seats in the state with 15 seats , apart from its other ally, DAP, also with 15 seats. PKR has 13 seats.

Khalid was re-appointed as the Mentri Besar, on a consensus within Pakatan Rakyat, for the second term after May 5 general election judging from his performance in the first term.

"The purpose of this move is for PKR to prevent the position being taken up by PAS.

“This is an insult to our tahaluf siyasi (political cooperation)," he said, adding that it was a "sneaky" move.

"This shows that they put their party interest first instead of Pakatan Rakyat's interest," said Khairuddin who is also a Kuala Nerus MP.

Khairuddin also said that there was no reason to replace Khalid as MB as he has been administrating the state successfully.

He added that if there was a need to replace the top post, it would easily be given back to PAS, by appointing its Selangor party commissioner Iskandar Abdul Samad, who is a Cempaka assemblyman and a state exco. 

"To be involved in a Kajang by-election just to fulfil Anwar's agenda to become MB replacing Khalid is an insult to PAS. PAS shouldn't let this to happen," he said.

PAS has come out in full force condemning the "tactical" move by PKR since the resignation of its Kajang assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh on Monday. 

They also claimed that they were kept in the dark and the decision was made by the top Pakatan leaders.