Wan Azizah says has support of lawmakers to replace Khalid as Selangor chief

Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, with her husband Anwar Ibrahim, at the nomination centre in Bangi on 11 March 2014 to file her nomination papers for the Kajang by-election. -- PHOTO: THE STAR 
Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, with her husband Anwar Ibrahim, at the nomination centre in Bangi on 11 March 2014 to file her nomination papers for the Kajang by-election. -- PHOTO: THE STAR 

PETALING JAYA - The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) alliance says 30 Selangor lawmakers have signed letters of support for Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to govern the state, two more than the minimum to dislodge renegade Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim from his post.

Dr Wan Azizah is also writing a letter to the Selangor ruler to ask for an audience to show her proof of majority.

The Star newspaper quoted Wan Azizah as urging Khalid, who was sacked by PKR on Saturday, to step down as he no longer had majority support in the 56-seat state assembl.

"The 30 Pakatan state assemblymen have sworn their support for me in writing, and are also present in person to state their stand,'' the newspaper quoted Wan Azizah as saying.

"With that, Pakatan would like to announce that we have the support of the majority, and will write a letter to the Sultan of Selangor to seek an audience with him and present the state assembly's support for a change in menteri besar," she told reporters.

Malaysian Insider reported that apart from the backing of 15 Democratic Action Party (DAP) and 13 PKR assemblymen, Wan Azizah said she also has the support of two PAS reps - Hulu Kelang assemblyman Saari Sungib and Morib assemblyman Hasnul Baharuddin.

The two PAS assemblymen's decision pre-empts the party's central committee meeting on Sunday (Aug 17), where the party is expected to decide whether it endorses Wan Azizah as the new menteri besar.

Both PAS reps were present when Wan Azizah made the announcement at a hotel in Subang Jaya on Thursday afternoon.

The development came after Kahid met the Selangor sultan on Monday and claimed thereafter that the latter allowed him to stay on in his post despite his sacking from PKR. He said he told Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah that he still commanded the majority of support in the state legislature in the government led by PR.

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