Creating a stir when he walked into the Selangor Umno Convention 2017 yesterday, Khalid went on to announce that he will help BN to regain the state in the next general election but as an independent.
The former Selangor menteri besar under PKR, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said that he will help Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) wrest the state back from Pakatan Harapan in the 14th General Election (GE14).
“I am ready to help Umno and Barisan in Selangor and with any others if it is for the good and prosperity of the rakyat and state,” he said after attending the Selangor Umno Convention 2017 at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Khalid served as menteri besar from 2008 to 2014 when he was pressured to resign after being expelled from PKR in 2014 for his refusal to vacate his menteri besar post.
The Port Klang assemblyman and Bandar Tun Razak MP, who is partyless, said he would act independently without being officially linked to any party, including Umno and PAS.
He said that he will lend his experience and use his influence to win support for Umno and Barisan and hoped that this, in turn, would be able to benefit the people.
“I believe that by working independently, the people will not have to worry about my purpose (in politics).
“My only intention is to contribute for the success of the people in Selangor. I do not represent any party. I represent the people of Selangor.
“I welcome all efforts to strengthen the solidarity among Muslims and Malaysians, whether from the government or the opposition, because I want to see Selangor prosper and be united.
“That is why I am prepared to work with Selangor BN and whoever else for the benefit of the people of Selangor,” he told a press conference at the PWTC.
Also present was Selangor Umno chairman Noh Omar.
Earlier, his appearance at the convention when he entered with Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former menteri besar Muhammad Muhd Taib created a stir among the media present.
It is understood that Khalid was present at the event as an invited guest. He had also attended the PAS national assembly in Alor Setar in May.
Khalid said he had held a discussion with Noh and Muhammad and they were ready to accept his assistance as it was for the good of the people.
He added that the people today are smarter and will choose a candidate, instead of a party, that they believe would be able to lead the state well.
He will not be defending his seat in the coming general election as he revealed that he was not going to contest in GE14.
“Don’t think that I have come to Umno to get a seat,” he said.
“I will work hard because I need to make sure Selangor undergoes change by having back the party which I feel can protect and heighten the interests of this country,” he said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMNvKzT9Ubg
BN’s control over Selangor was broken for the first time when PKR, DAP and PAS won the state in the 2008 general election, a feat which they repeated in the 2013 election.
The state is currently led by PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, who was appointed as menteri besar by the Sultan of Selangor following the move to purge Khalid.
Meanwhile, Zahid said Umno hopes to win back Selangor with the support of four of its former Menteri Besar’s – Khalid, Muhd Taib, Abu Hassan Omar and Mohammad Khir Toyo.
“We realise that this (fight) will be an uphill battle for us, and we have to work harder and work smarted in order to realise it,” he said.