Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said today the Sultan of Selangor has consented to him continuing as Selangor Menteri Besar for now as he still commands support of the majority of state assemblymen.
"His Royal Highness consented that the existing menteri besar continues his duties," said Khalid during a press conference at the secretariat building today.
He said the sultan was satisfied with his explanation that he still has the majority support in the state assembly.
Khalid said he had explained his position during a two-hour meeting with the council and the Selangor Sultan at the Istana Alam Shah, Klang, on his position as the Selangor MB.
"I explained that despite my sacking as a PKR member, I still command the confidence of the majority of the assemblymen.
"Hence, HRH was satisfied with the explanation I presented and consented to my continuing as Selangor menteri besar.
"Until there are new developments, I still remain the menteri besar of Selangor and will carry out my duties like normal."
Khalid said PAS had already announced that its four exco members would continue working in the state government under him, and added that this figure was enough to continue with the exco even if the remaining six PKR and DAP exco members stepped down.
He also dismissed suggestions that he was no longer qualified to continue as menteri besar since he had been sacked from his party last Saturday.
"This is a matter of state administration, not political administration," he said, adding that the state was administered by the exco and its policies were implemented by public servants.
"Hence, I do not see any problems or limitations in the state administration."
Khalid said any criticism by his own party members that he no longer commanded the majority of the assemblymen's confidence should be put to test through the state legislative assembly.
"The test on whether the menteri besar has the whole support or no support will be tested according to the appropriation of the enactment," said Khalid.
"The whole process has to be done. First, the dewan convenes. If the decision of the dewan is that I do not have the majority support from the assemblymen, then I will have to seek an audience with the sultan and explain to him and recommend my decision."
When asked if he had discussed with the sultan the possibility of holding an emergency state assembly sitting ahead of its scheduled sitting in November, Khalid said no.
"I am not the one who wants the early sitting," he said, adding that the issue of dissolving the state assembly had not arisen during today's meeting.
PKR announced on Saturday that it had expelled Khalid for defying the party’s orders to step down as menteri besar and make way for Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to replace him.
His expulsion came weeks after the MB crisis threatened to split Pakatan between PAS, which supports Khalid, and PKR and DAP, which want him removed.
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