Former Kajang assemblyperson Lee Chin Cheh has urged a recalcitrant Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim to follow his example - accept the party’s decision ordering him to vacate his post.
Lee said Khalid knew he had to quit his post as far back as January this year following a meeting with PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.
“He agreed to do it as long as PKR deputy president Azmin Ali was not the one to replace him,” Lee told Malaysiakini.
Lee said Khalid’s “insubordination” began in 2009 - a year after Pakatan took power in Selangor - when he allegedly went rogue and refused to follow party decisions.
“In fact, we were frustrated with the party’s inaction over Khalid’s insubordination,” Lee added.
According to the former assemblyperson, Khalid also had the habit of suggesting that other PKR leaders were corrupt,angering them.
“We were upset when he tried to paint others, except himself, as corrupt. A bunch of us are clean, so it was wrong for him to do this,” he fumed.
According to Lee, the Kajang by-election was necessary to put a “better leader” to helm Selangor, the jewel in Pakatan Rakyat's crown.
Lee was referring to Khalid’s reply on Wednesday in his official website to the show-cause letter sent by PKR's disciplinary board, where he said he was unable to fathom the reason for Lee quitting the Kajang seat.
Lee resigned from his Kajang seat on Jan 27 to force a by-election - dubbed as the ‘Kajang Move’ - which was to be contested by Anwar.
But after his sodomy conviction, Anwar was replaced by his wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
However, Khalid is adamant on staying on as MB and has since rallied the support of PAS to help him retain the post.
Last month, PKR named Wan Azizah as the new MB, while both DAP and PAS will decide on her appointment on Sunday, and Aug 17, respectively.
PKR has 14 seats in the 56-seat Selangor state assembly, while DAP and PAS have 15 seats each.
Lee said when he vacated the Kajang seat, he was very clear about the reason and the immediate necessity for him to do so - that a leader of better calibre acceptable to all, someone like Anwar, can first be a state assemblyperson before replacing Khalid.
“It was not a rushed or hasty decision,”he said.
Anwar’s plan aborted
He added that he raised concerns over Khalid’s style of administration after having closely observed the MB as a party leader in Selangor and as member of the state’s Public Accounts Committee.
Lee claimed that both PAS and DAP supported the ‘Kajang Move’ before he decided to quit hisseat and that they agreed with the plan to replace him with Khalid.
However, the hasty Court of Appeals decision on Anwar's Sodomy II case - where he was sentenced to a five- year jail term - prevented the PKR leader's bid.
Lee said the entire party, however, worked hard to ensure that Wan Azizah won the seat. Khalid himself was insistent on becoming PKR elections director in the by-election although Lee was not certain of his motive for doing so.
“Khalid, in his letter, expressed regret that action was not taken against me for quitting the Kajang seat,” said Lee.
“Please do not let the regret continue to breed in your heart. If I have broken any of the party’s rules or orders, please lodge a report against me with the disciplinary board so that the matter would be probed and appropriate action taken,” Lee challenged.
“I am willing to cooperate fully with the disciplinary board committee and will accept the party’s decision,” he added.
Lee told Khalid that the MB’s post is not his personal property as it is the party which gives leaders like him the chance to hold such a post.
“In fact, it is the hard work and sacrifices of party members which put us in our posts, and therefore I will obey (the party),” he said.
He urged Khalid to do the same and respect the party's decision.
"His failure to do so would further tarnish the party’s reputation and undermine the people’s confidence (in Pakatan). His stubbornness and disobedience do not at all help the people (of Selangor)," Lee stressed.
Lee said Khalid knew he had to quit his post as far back as January this year following a meeting with PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.
“He agreed to do it as long as PKR deputy president Azmin Ali was not the one to replace him,” Lee told Malaysiakini.
Lee said Khalid’s “insubordination” began in 2009 - a year after Pakatan took power in Selangor - when he allegedly went rogue and refused to follow party decisions.“In fact, we were frustrated with the party’s inaction over Khalid’s insubordination,” Lee added.
According to the former assemblyperson, Khalid also had the habit of suggesting that other PKR leaders were corrupt,angering them.
“We were upset when he tried to paint others, except himself, as corrupt. A bunch of us are clean, so it was wrong for him to do this,” he fumed.
According to Lee, the Kajang by-election was necessary to put a “better leader” to helm Selangor, the jewel in Pakatan Rakyat's crown.
Lee was referring to Khalid’s reply on Wednesday in his official website to the show-cause letter sent by PKR's disciplinary board, where he said he was unable to fathom the reason for Lee quitting the Kajang seat.
Lee resigned from his Kajang seat on Jan 27 to force a by-election - dubbed as the ‘Kajang Move’ - which was to be contested by Anwar.
But after his sodomy conviction, Anwar was replaced by his wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
However, Khalid is adamant on staying on as MB and has since rallied the support of PAS to help him retain the post.
Last month, PKR named Wan Azizah as the new MB, while both DAP and PAS will decide on her appointment on Sunday, and Aug 17, respectively.
PKR has 14 seats in the 56-seat Selangor state assembly, while DAP and PAS have 15 seats each.Lee said when he vacated the Kajang seat, he was very clear about the reason and the immediate necessity for him to do so - that a leader of better calibre acceptable to all, someone like Anwar, can first be a state assemblyperson before replacing Khalid.
“It was not a rushed or hasty decision,”he said.
Anwar’s plan aborted
He added that he raised concerns over Khalid’s style of administration after having closely observed the MB as a party leader in Selangor and as member of the state’s Public Accounts Committee.
Lee claimed that both PAS and DAP supported the ‘Kajang Move’ before he decided to quit hisseat and that they agreed with the plan to replace him with Khalid.
However, the hasty Court of Appeals decision on Anwar's Sodomy II case - where he was sentenced to a five- year jail term - prevented the PKR leader's bid.
Lee said the entire party, however, worked hard to ensure that Wan Azizah won the seat. Khalid himself was insistent on becoming PKR elections director in the by-election although Lee was not certain of his motive for doing so.“Khalid, in his letter, expressed regret that action was not taken against me for quitting the Kajang seat,” said Lee.
“Please do not let the regret continue to breed in your heart. If I have broken any of the party’s rules or orders, please lodge a report against me with the disciplinary board so that the matter would be probed and appropriate action taken,” Lee challenged.
“I am willing to cooperate fully with the disciplinary board committee and will accept the party’s decision,” he added.
Lee told Khalid that the MB’s post is not his personal property as it is the party which gives leaders like him the chance to hold such a post.
“In fact, it is the hard work and sacrifices of party members which put us in our posts, and therefore I will obey (the party),” he said.
He urged Khalid to do the same and respect the party's decision.
"His failure to do so would further tarnish the party’s reputation and undermine the people’s confidence (in Pakatan). His stubbornness and disobedience do not at all help the people (of Selangor)," Lee stressed.
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