We didn’t want Umno to lay hands on Selangor’s RM3.2 billion, says PAS exco
The Malaysian Insider – 19 hours agoRELATED CONTENT
- We didn’t want Umno to lay hands on Selangor’s RM3.2 billion, says PAS exco
A second Selangor PAS executive councillor has come out to defend the Islamist party's move to stay on in the state exco line-up, saying it was to prevent being replaced by Umno exco members who would get their hands on Selangor's RM3.2 billion reserves.
The exco in charge of religious affairs Sallehen Mukhyi said today that the decision by the four PAS exco members to stay on was meant as a "'last defence" to save the Pakatan Rakyat government.
He also made a plea to the people not to view them as traitors, adding that according to Selangor laws, only four exco members were needed for the state government to function.
They four excos are Iskandar Abdul Samad, Dr Halimah Ali, Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi and Sallehen.
Earlier today, PAS exco Dr Halimah Ali denied she and her three colleagues from PAS had conspired with Khalid to delay the state assembly sitting.
“There was no such discussion. If (Tan Sri Abdul) Khalid (Ibrahim) had discussed this with other exco members, I do not know about it," she said.
Sacked DAP exco member Datuk Teng Chang Khim said yesterday this conspiracy enabled Khalid to remain in office until November.
On Tuesday, Khalid sacked five executive councillors from PKR and DAP, leaving only him and four PAS excos in the state government.
The five were Teng, Elizabeth Wong, Ean Yong Hian Wah, V. Ganabatirau and Dr Daroyah Alwi.
PKR assemblyman Rodziah Ismail who was away at the time, returned and tendered her resignation from the state government.
Following the sacking, DAP and PKR had appealed to the four PAS excos to boycott the following day's meeting as a gesture of solidarity, but the four refused.
Sallehen, in a posting on the PAS Selangor Facebook page today, said that if the four of them resigned, Umno would then take over the administration of the state.
"If the four of us boycott the state government, the palace will install four exco members from Umno, even if it is only to serve until the next state assembly sitting.
"And when the DUN is dissolved, Umno would be the final government and RM3.2 billion would be in their hands," he said.
He added that it would then be akin to just “handing over” the state administration to Umno.
"So we are just following party orders here."
Khalid, who is Port Klang assemblyman and Bandar Tun Razak MP, said on Monday that he had the support of the majority in the 56-seat state assembly and that the sultan wanted him to remain as MB.
Yesterday, however, about 30 Selangor assemblymen declared their loss of confidence in Khalid as MB. Among them were PAS's assemblymen Saari Sungib (Hulu Kelang) and Hasnul Baharuddin (Morib).
The third term of the state legislative is scheduled to commence in November. – August 15, 2014.
