Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim is staring at the possibility of being sacked from his party, making it untenable for him to remain as the Selangor Menteri Besar (MB), says a party insider.
He told The Malaysian Insider that PKR's disciplinary board would investigate allegations against the second-term MB and recommend its findings and the appropriate punishment to the central committee.
"Looking at the present scenario, Khalid is very likely to be sacked from the party for gross insubordination." the source said about the Port Klang assemblyman and Bandar Tun Razak MP.
"He will still remain the menteri besar, but as an independent. It would cause collateral damage to PAS if the party accepted him into their fold," he added.
He also said PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution will inform Khalid about the committee's decision and he could then appeal the findings and punishment (to the central committee).
The source pointed out that it was a common understanding that a party in any coalition will not recruit a member sacked from another party in the pact.
PKR, PAS and DAP are in the loose coalition that has been in power in the country's wealthiest state since the 2008 general election.
PKR's bearish move comes after Khalid's defiant response yesterday to a show cause letter issued by party disciplinary board chairman, Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong.
Khalid, who is under intense pressure to resign from his post as MB to make way for Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, had questioned the show cause letter his party issued to him on Tuesday.
He said the notice was "defective" as it lacked specifics for him to reply, although party vice-president N. Surendran said the letter questioned the MB's defiance against party directives.
The second-term MB was issued a show cause letter by PKR for going against the party's decision to replace him with Dr Wan Azizah for the top government post in Selangor.
In a three-page reply to Dr Tan, Khalid said the show cause letter did not have relevant evidence for him to reply.
"When a notice is issued, it is a main consideration for the notice to clearly and specifically state the accusations against me by stating the relevant clauses as prescribed in the party's constitution, as well as clauses of punishment that could be taken against me.
"Such specifics have to be listed down, but unfortunately the notice dated August 5 is defective without any relevant evidence for me to reply," he said.
While the DAP supports Khalid's removal, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and the party's spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said Khalid could remain as MB as he has not betrayed the trust of the people.
However, the party has yet to make a decision and the central working committee will meet on August 10.
PKR, which is now at loggerhead with PAS over the appointment of a new MB, has taken the position that it was an understanding that the head of government for Selangor came from the party.
Lawyer Syahredzan Johan said Khalid's option is limited if he is sacked from the party as the Societies Act prevents party disciplinary matters to be adjudicated by the court.
"He cannot go beyond the party to get justice following amendments to the law some 25 years ago after Umno was declared illegal in 1988," he said.
In his reply to the show cause letter, Khalid expressed his disappointment with the party leadership over the "Kajang move" which he claimed was unfair towards him.
He said the "Kajang move" was a "directive" to him without giving him due consideration to his responsibilities as the Selangor MB.
Khalid has been facing mounting pressure from the PKR leadership to resign over his handling of Selangor affairs.
This included the state’s management of its water resources, Kidex highway and seizure of Malay and Iban-language Bibles by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais). - TMI
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