Pas Selangor offers seat to former Selangor MB Khalid
SHAH ALAM: Pas Selangor is offering a state seat in the 14th general election for Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to contest in the 14th general Election.
The offer from the Islamic party canme about after the former Selangor Mentri Besar had recently pledged to assist Pas in wresting the state from the current Pakatan Harapan government.
State Pas commissioner Sallehen Mukhyi said they welcome the former Selangor Menteri Besar’s presence and intention to assist them.
He adds that to do so, it was not necessary for Khalid, who is currently the Port Klang independent assemblyman to enter Pas.
“I feel there will no need for Khalid to join Pas at the moment, may be he is not comfortable doing that now.
“If he wants to contest under the Pas or independent ticket, both ways, we will support him. We will be able to find a suitable constituency for him.
“If he wants to contest as an independent candidate at where Selangor Pas will field a representative, we could consider not contesting there and instead, pave the way for Khalid,” Sallehen told the New Straits Times today.
Sallehen, who is also Sabak assemblyman, added that Selangor Pas was open to the idea of Khalid assisting them as both parties had enjoyed good political relationship since 2008.
He added that Pas had always warmed up to Khalid, before he was appointed as Selangor Menteri Besar and even when the latter was sacked from the state’s number 1 position by his own party, PKR, back in 2014.
“Khalid is definitely not a stranger to Selangor Pas and we do not have a problem cooperating with him. Selangor Pas has always given him our fullest support when he was Selangor Menteri Besar. He ran Selangor very well during his tenure, he is transparent and a highly respected corporate figure.
“I do not think Khalid wants to help Selangor Pas because he is ‘indebted’ to us. But it is rather that he sees that Pas had always been consistent in our struggle and cause. This is why he is ready to extend his assistance to us,” believes Sallehen.
He also said that Pas he saw no problems with Khalid, who is seen to be Umno friendly, brushing it off as a non-threat.
“Khalid has many friends in Umno and I see it as of him trying to woo them to vote for Pas in the next general election. I see it a strategy to garner votes.
“This is because Pas definitely cannot depend solely on support and votes from its own party members.
“We need the support from members of other political parties as well as on-the-fence voters,” added Sallehen.
Meanwhile, Selangor Umno liaison committee deputy chief Datuk Mat Nadzari Ahmad Dahlan said Khalid’s move showed that the latter, too, wanted to bring down the Selangor state government led by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.
“That is how I interpret Khalid’s stance and it seemed to suggest that regardless of what platform he chooses to support, Umno o Pas, his main aim is to successfully topple the Pakatan Harapan government.
“Khalid’s way should be respected because he does not personally attack his enemies but chose to use the general election avenue to bring down the state’s ruling party and this is, no doubt, is very advantageous to Selangor Barisan Nasional, too,” he added.
Nadzari added that Khalid could have possibly chosen to support Pas after seeing for himself how poorly the state has been managed as well as its weaknesses compared to his days as Selangor Menteri Besar.
“He wants to show the rakyat that it is time to change the state government because the current administration has failed. I do not see Khalid’s action as bitter or an act of revenge against the Pakatan Harapan government but a change for the better,” said Nadzari.