 KLANG: Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim is delivering a strong message – and that is he is not budging from his position, political analysts say. He has no intention of relinquishing his position to PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim or to anyone else, they said, pointing to Khalid’s latest reaffirmation during a recent television interview that he wants to remain in the post well after the March 23 Kajang by-election. Anwar will be contesting in the by-election to catapult himself into the Selangor state legislative assembly and has expressed his intention to replace Khalid as the mentri besar. Political analyst Dr Ahmad Masrizal Muhammad said Khalid had been pushed by the circumstances surrounding him and PKR’s internal political pressure to make a strong stand regarding his position. “A good example is his recent checkmate on Anwar by signing the water deal with the Federal Government,” said Dr Ahmad Masrizal. “That’s Khalid saying ‘look here, I am the mentri besar and I have the power and authority to do this’.” He said it was a tactical move by Khalid to consolidate his position as well as to show his detractors that he too knows how to be a politician. “By right, the water deal with the Federal Government should have been signed and settled ages ago as it involves the people’s interest. “But they were busy with political grappling with the Federal Government without thinking much about the people,’’ added Dr Ahmad Masrizal. He said Khalid had taken a step forward by working with the Federal Government and establishing a government-to-government relationship via the water deal. Universiti Sains Malaysia Social Science Studies Centre deputy dean Assoc Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said Khalid was putting his foot down to prevent damage to Selangor from PKR’s internal conflict. “For instance, the tussle with Anwar and Azmin (PKR deputy president Azmin Ali) is more of a party tussle rather than a state problem,’’ said Dr Sivamurugan. He said Khalid was trying to restore the people’s confidence as well as shield himself from attacks and criticism levelled against him by certain segments of PKR with his tough political stance. -The Star.
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