Anwar refused to confirm his rumoured plan to replace Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as Selangor Mentri Besar. — Picture by Choo Choy May

PETALING JAYA, Jan 28 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced today that he will contest the coming Kajang by-election, confirming previous speculation in the media.

But the Opposition Leader, who was speaking at a packed press conference at PKR's headquarters here, refused to confirm his rumoured plan to replace Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as Selangor Mentri Besar.

Instead, Anwar said he had no choice but to contest the seat as he had been chosen to do so by PKR.

“The consensus in PKR is to nominate me,” he said.

Anwar was flanked by Khalid at the press conference. Also present were DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, DAP central committee member Liew Chin Tong and PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub.

When asked whether this was part of a plan to end the “rivalry” between Khalid and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, Anwar said the issue did not even arise.

“The PKNS issue is a small issue, Umno has so many bigger problems,” Anwar added.

He said however that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) would have to go to Kajang and explain the reasons behind the sudden resignation of former state assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh.

“We will have to explain the situation...Tan Sri Khalid will be helping,” Anwar as Khalid nodded in agreement.

Speaking to reporters, Khalid said Anwar’s decision to contest the now vacated seat will bring about a positive development within PKR as well as Selangor.

The Malay Mail Online understands that high-level discussions are well under way among top PR leaders to replace Khalid.

While popular with the general public, Khalid’s penchant for unilateral decision-making in administrating the country’s wealthiest state is understood to be a source of dissatisfaction among PR leaders in the state.

Among his decisions that have ruffled feathers in the pact are the controversial pay hikes for Selangor state assemblymen and administrators, an unexpected decision to go with Putrajaya’s recommendations in the state’s water restructuring plans, and the convoluted removal of Azmin from the board of the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS).

Rumours about Khalid’s position began brewing after January 8 when Azmin received a letter informing him of his removal from the board of the PKNS, which officials allege was done on orders from the state government.

Khalid later insisted that the Selangor executive council did not decide on Azmin’s removal, and declassified official state documents to confirm the matter last week.

Azmin told The Malay Mail Online in a recent interview that he was more concerned about improving PR’s performance in its second term in the Selangor government, and not “personal rivalries”.

He stressed the importance of teamwork in the administration of a state and said no leader should make unilateral decisions. PR currently holds 44 seats in the 56-seat Selangor state assembly, after it won another 10 seats over its haul from Election 2008.