MB Khalid no longer for PKR but all for HIMSELF?

MUCH has been written about PKR deputy president Azmin Ali's ambition to take over Malaysia's most developed state.

News of it seems to have died down after his May 10 press conference, where many expected Azmin to give a tell all on nepotism in PKR and announce that he is quitting the party, but Azmin in truth has never really stopped trying to infiltrate the state administration's inner sanctum.

One way to achieve this after failing to become Selangor menteri besar was to get rid of Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's staunchest and most loyal and vocal advisers, his political secretary Faekah Husin and his trusted press secretary Arfa'eza Abdul Aziz.

Faekah and Arfa'eza have been by Khalid's side since his teething days as menteri besar.

Faekah, who never minces words, will play bad cop and issue stinging statements on his behalf while Arfa'eza will do damage control whenever her boss' oratory skills fail him and lands him in trouble, which happened often enough during those early days.

These two women also moved heaven and earth to make sure their boss won in the last general election in Bandar Tun Razak and Port Klang when party support and machinery were said to be almost non-existent.

Therefore it was only logical that the Selangor PKR chief, with the party's backing, wanted the two women removed.

Last year, Azmin's supporters allegedly started a campaign called "Kami Sayangkan PKR (We Love PKR)", and "Pecat Faekah (Sack Faekah)" to oust Khalid's gatekeepers.

This resulted in the recent appointment of two new political secretaries to supposedly replace Faekah and appease the party members -- Khalid's long time aide-de-camp Mustapha Mohd Talib and Bandar Tun Razak PKR chief Azman Abidin.

Mustapha will be in charge of ceremonies and protocol while Azman will oversee the Bandar Tun Razak and Port Klang constituencies.

However, word has it that these appointments are nothing more than a change in designation and they will not actually be replacing Faekah, who will still be Khalid's political secretary behind the scenes.

What will not be a change in name is Faekah's yet to be announced new appointment.

It seems that Khalid will have the last laugh after all. The attempt to get Faekah sacked has resulted in her landing the biggest, juiciest post in the state government-linked companies.

Although Khalid has yet to make a formal announcement, his trusted right hand has been appointed as the new Menteri Besar Incorporated's (MBI) chief executive officer, a post many PKR members would give an arm and a leg for.

This coveted appointment will give Faekah an even bigger power base, especially over the much sought over control of Selangorku's RM300 million grant which is managed by Selangor Menteri Besar's Office and MBI.

It seems that five years in the menteri besar's seat has taught Khalid a lot about politics and survival. Even the political appointment of PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail as a political liaison officer in the Menteri Besar's Office will have little bearing on the latter.

It is understood that Saifuddin's appointment was approved by PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to assuage the anger of PKR leaders against Faekah who it was felt wields too much power in the Menteri Besar's Office although Anwar said Saifuddin's presence was to "help" Khalid.

Saifuddin, who will be taking care of the rural development portfolio in the State Economic Planning Unit, allegedly will not have direct access to Khalid and has to report to Faekah, and word has it that this arrangement did not sit well with Saifuddin who has yet to show up at the office after reporting for duty on July 22.

I guess it is true what Khalid's trusted people are saying, now his enemies are no longer Umno but PKR people themselves.

They are trying their best to bring down leaders like the menteri besar who has little influence in the party but is more popular among the people ahead of the party election next year.

-NST