 Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim today admitted that he met with Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah about his stand on holding onto his position. Khalid's admission confirms earlier reports that he had met with the Sultan of Selangor after receiving a letter from PKR on his resignation early last month. He said that he had explained his stand not to relinquish the post to the executive council. "I have informed the Sultan and the exco of my intention," he told a press conference after a meet-the-people session at Dewan Taman Mesra in Kajang. It is now believed that his "intention" refers to his decision to remain as menteri besar. Last week, Khalid announced that he will be contesting the PKR deputy president post in the party's elections next month. "I have informed the Sultan and the exco of my intention," he told a press conference after a meet-the-people session at Dewan Taman Mesra in Kajang. It is now believed that his "intention" refers to his decision to remain as Menteri Besar. Last week, Khalid announced that he will be contesting the PKR deputy president’s post in the party's leadership elections next month. Khalid also reiterated that he never signed a resignation letter or was ever forced to do so. "No. I did not sign, if there was such a letter sent to my office. I never saw such a letter and if it is true I signed it, the state executive council would have been told first," he said. Khalid has been the centre of speculation that he will have to vacate his position to make way for PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, contesting in the Kajang by-election. The state seat fell vacant after PKR's Lee Chin Cheh resigned as assemblyman in what is known as the 'Kajang Move', aimed at 'defending' Selangor, the richest state in the country, from constant attacks by Barisan Nasional (BN). It was also speculated that the Kajang Move was to dampen the internal feud between Khalid and incumbent PKR deputy president and Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Azmin Ali. The turmoil within the party heightened when Khalid signed a memorandum of understanding with Putrajaya to solve the state's water crisis last week in exchange for letting the federal government resume the Langat 2 water treatment plant. The MoU signing was read as Khalid trying to sideline Anwar, who said he was not informed of the deal with Putrajaya. The move initially received backlash from the Pakatan Rakyat leadership, with the PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli claiming that it will see water tariffs in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya increased. Party leaders have stated that PKR will make its official stand on Khalid's position after the by-election. Meanwhile, on the Selangor government setting up a special committee made up of independent lawyers to study the content of the MoU, Khalid said it was a practice of transparency on the state's part. "That is the way for a government that must have professionalism. If want to give advice, but don't know about the water issue, then we will have trouble," he said. He also said the water deal with Putrajaya attracted criticism because there was disappointment the state government was not together in the matter. On talks that PKR may send Rafizi into the Kajang by-election as a substitute for Anwar should the Appeals Court overturn his sodomy acquittal today, Khalid said he did not want to comment on the matter for now. – March 7, 2014. -TMI-
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