KHALIB'S MENTAL STABILITY IN QUESTION: Chuckling away, MB asks PAS to decide whether to sack Anwar

After nearly wiping out PKR and DAP from his administration, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim indicated today that even Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) de facto chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim may face the boot from his post as Selangor economic advisor.

But the mentri besar, now seen as more powerful after his shrewd sacking of five PKR and DAP state executive councillors, said the matter will be left in the hands of his four remaining exco members from PAS.

“That will be discussed by the excos,” Khalid told reporters here.

Anwar was appointed to the state post back in 2010.

Khalid sacked five state executive councillors from PKR and DAP yesterday, purportedly for refusing to cooperate with him as Selangor mentri besar. Only one PKR exco member, Rodziah Ismail, remains in the council for now as she is currently abroad.

When explaining the sacking, Khalid said the Selangor Sultan had given his consent on the matter, and that official letters were been sent to the five yesterday evening.

Earlier today, the second-term mentri besar even produced the Sultan’s consent letter, proving his detractors wrong when they accused him of lying about obtaining the state ruler’s nod for the sacking.

PKR’s disciplinary committee expelled Khalid from the party last week for his open defiance of the party’s decision that he must step down to make way for PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Khalid’s sacking leaves PR in a precarious state in Selangor, and adds to worries that snap polls may have to be called to ward off a stalemate.

Without Khalid, PKR’s share of the 56-seat Selangor state assembly drops to 13 from 14 while allies DAP and PAS have 15 seats each. Umno, the opposition in the state, holds 12.

PAS has yet to declare its stand on the issue, only saying its representatives will continue to serve under Khalid until, and unless, the party leadership decides otherwise during its meeting this Sunday.

This is out of respect for the Sultan, they previously said, pointing out that the state ruler had agreed to retain Khalid in the mentri besar seat despite his sacking from PKR. - Malay Mail