SHAH ALAM: Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim is expected to be sworn in as the Selangor Mentri Besar tomorrow, putting an end to the week-long speculation within Pakatan Rakyat on who would hold the post.

A source close to the Mentri Besar's Office said Khalid would begin his second term as mentri besar after taking his oath before Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

According to the source Khalid is scheduled to have an audience with the Sultan today, during which the Tuanku is expected to advise him on several issues.

State Speaker Datuk Teng Chang Khim said he has not received the invitation to the swearing-in ceremony, but said it was possible for the invitation to arrive today.

“The earliest is Tuesday. One day's notice is enough,” he said, adding that by convention, the Selangor Royal Council, all assemblymen and the state Speaker would be invited to witness the event.

Khalid took his first oath of office on March 13, 2008, four days after the 12th general election while members of the state exco were sworn on March 23, ten days later.

In the May 5 polls, Pakatan won 44 out of 56 seats, an increase from the 36 seats gained in 2008.

However, immediately after the victory, there was no certainty that the mentri besar position would be retained by PKR as the party held the least seats among its Pakatan partners. It won 14 seats against the 15 each held by DAP and PAS.

Over the past few days, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang and secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali had made public their stand to back Khalid to be retained as mentri besar.

Meanwhile, political analysts say whoever chosen by Pakatan should put aside political differences and work closely with the Federal Government to resolve issues affecting people in Selangor.

“I think the time has come for the next MB to work closely with the Federal Government to resolve long-standing issues besetting the residents in Selangor, especially the water issue.

“The state government should cooperate with the Federal Government, irrespective of their political differences, and ensure all decisions do not burden the people,” Universiti Sains Malaysia Associate Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian told Bernama.

Dr Sivamurugan said the mentri besar had the ethical duty to give importance to the construction of the Langat 2 water treatment plant to ensure adequate supply of clean water in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor until 2025.

He said the mentri besar should also hold a party post at the state to ensure that no one overrides him in whatever way.

Related Stories:
I will respect and uphold Sultan's decision, says Azmin
GE13: Zin blames PR cybertroopers over disappointing performance in Selangor
Name candidate for Selangor MB, PAS urged
Azmin now says he supports Khalid as Selangor MB
Guan Eng: Appointment of Selangor MB should be settled quickly
GE13: Anwar told me to prepare to take over from Khalid in 2008'
GE13: Guan Eng: Selangor MB post should be decided by Pakatan and not just PKR
GE13: PKR leader: Meeting held over choosing Selangor MB
GE13: Azmin Ali questions Wan Azizah

• Dollar rise hits oil, gold; euro sags on ECB cut bets
• Scomi Group secures RM98.5m Turkmenistan contract
• KLCI at fresh record close, on fund buying of banks, Tenaga
• Puncak Niaga to issue warrants, raise RM165m Sukuk
• Moody's: Core Chinese shadow banking products total 21 trillion renminbi
• I-Bhd, Thailand's Central Pattana to build shopping mall in iCity
• MISC falls in active trade
• Firm dollar hits oil, gold, shares; Nikkei scales new peak
• Allianz targets RM150m new business premiums this year
• Mah Sing's Meridin@Medini records pre-selection of RM261m (Update)
• Samsung racing towards downloading a whole movie in one second through super-fast 5G
• KLCI up nearly 14pts at midday (Update)
• RAM Ratings ups Menara ABS’s Sukuk outlook to stable
• Leon Fuat to raise RM35.58m from share sale (Update)
• AirAsia X eyes up to US$300m Malaysia IPO - term sheet

• Taiwanese fishermen burn Filipino flags in protest
• Yemen army jet crashes in Sanaa, pilot killed
• US scientist depressed and left suicide notes, Singapore public inquiry told
• Philippines holds elections vital for Aquino reforms
• Samsung announces 5G data breakthrough
• Police in US arrest 12-year-old for sister's murder
• Warming to hit half of plants, a third of animals
• 17 people shot at New Orleans parade: report

• Woods wins Players Championship
• Silver lining in Fort Lauderdale for Pandelela-Mun Yee
• Affendi ruled out with nerve injury
• Hubbard leads hot Dragons to another easy win
• Teenager Praveen a Clearcut winner at Bukit Kiara
• Shalin wants more victories before calling it a day next year
• Puvendran upsets top seed Alwin in U-17 final
• Second title for Ramdan in Europe
• Coach wants badminton doubles pairs to be battle ready
• Milo aim to go even further in developing Malaysian sports
• KLHC-Tenaga showdown once again
• Argentina and South Africa to play in Johor Baru
• Serena sweeps aside Sharapova to retain Madrid crown
• Nadal wins Madrid title for fifth triumph this year
• Maria confirms romance with Bulgarian Dimitrov

• Please wait.

• New SARS-like virus can probably pass person-to-person
• Nurul Izzah says not eyeing PKR presidency when mum steps down
• Coronavirus epidemic awaits, not certain to be severe - discoverer
• Merkel says has no secrets about her communist past
• Appeals court frees six backers of black-clad Egypt protest group
• Scomi Group secures RM98.5m Turkmenistan contract
• Who will be the new IGP?
• Italy's Letta urges ministers to avoid clashing in public
• Greek state workers to strike against teachers' walkout ban
• Brothers of Cleveland kidnap suspect say he was aloof for years - CNN