It's official: PKR endorses Azizah as new MB

 

PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has been proposed as the next Selangor menteri besar.

This was announced by her husband and PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim at a press conference held after midnight.

Anwar made the announcement after chairing a PKR supreme council meeting.

PKR will bring the matter for Pakatan Rakyat endorsement at the coalition's leadership council meeting on Wednesday.

Should the Pakatan leadership agree to this, Wan Azizah, who is also the Kajang assemblyperson, would replace Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Anwar (right) said PAS and DAP had previously agreed with a change of leadership in Selangor but Khalid's successor had not been chosen.

"PAS agrees to a change in leadership in Selangor but the (MB) candidate was not decided, despite the fact that we had discussed it at the Pakatan secretariat meeting before.

"The candidate was never discussed in the leadership council meetings, even though there is a consensus for a smooth and orderly transition of power," he said at the party headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

He also said that the change will take place "as soon as possible"

Speculation has been rife for months that Khalid's head is on the chopping block. The second-term MB has served for six years.

Khalid will still have a role

According to Anwar, the party believes Wan Azizah will be able to restore stability in Selangor and regain ebbing support for Pakatan in its crown jewel state.

He said that Wan Azizah, would be able to solve outstanding issues like the water restructuring exercise, the Kinrara-Damasara Expressway and other basic infrastructure issues like garbage collection.

"Our consensus is to go by our earlier decision and to only put forth one name to the Pakatan leadership council.

"Of course, Khalid will still have a role in assisting in the state's administration," he said.

He said that discussions with Khalid (above) over his future role is ongoing.

He also denies reports that PKR will appoint several of its leaders to flank Wan Azizah in state administration.

"There is no discussion for any appointments," he stressed.

Malaysiakini earlier reported that it is believed that Wan Azizah will be assisted by PKR's Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul and party secretary-general Saifudin Nasution Ismail