Khalid Ibrahim expelled from PKR

PETALING JAYA: PKR has expelled Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim from the party after his continued refusal to relinquish his Selangor Mentri Besar post.

The decision comes after The Selangor Mentri Besar refused to turn up to face a disciplinary hearing, following an order to do so latest by noon Saturday from PKR disciplinary committee chairman Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong.

Dr Tan told a packed news conference that the party's central leadership, which had convened earlier to discuss Khalid's fate, unanimously decided that the MB was expelled effective immediately for what was considered "open defiance" to party orders.

He said Khalid had failed to adhere to the decision made by the central leadership on July 21 that he should relinquish his MB post to make way for party president Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to take over.

"Having taken into consideration Khalid's reply to the show-cause letter issued to him, we feel that he is no longer abiding by party decisions and as such, can no longer be part of the party.

"Khalid had defied decisions by the Pakatan Rakyat presidential council on several state issues and failed to provide timely explanations to these issues," Dr Tan said.

Issues included the discussion on the Langat 2 project, which Pakatan leaders wanted to delay, the restructuring of the state's water industry and the construction of the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex).

The party said that Khalid had also failed to explain a RM70mil Bank Islam debt that was settled out of court.

However, Dr Tan said Khalid had 14 days to appeal the decision.

"If he chooses to appeal, then a separate committee will be formed to look into the matter," he said.