Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim said today the state government was keeping its option open on allowing Mohd Khusrin Munawi to take his oath of secrecy and start working for it.

He said the state state executive council was mulling the possibility of letting Khusrin to take his oath of secrecy before it, the pre-requisite to his formal position as state secretary.

NONEHowever, Khalid (left) noted that the issue would be discussed at an meeting scheduled for tonight, after the morning’s state assembly sitting.

“We will have a discussion following today’s debate, because of the many points raised by the elected representatives from Pakatan and BN,” he told a press conference before winding up points raised during the debate on the proposed amendments to the state constitution.

Asked if Khusrin, who has a history of clashes with Khalid and his administration, was willing to work with the state government, the menteri besar said he was sure Khusrin “is a professional man, he will do his best, and he will work with the people”.

Khalid evaded a question on whether the Pakatan government accepted the legitimacy of Khusrin’s appointment, only saying that it “depends on (his) performance.”

He also sidestepped questions on whether or not the state had timeframe for a decision on Khusrin’s status, saying, “You have to watch (us)... we have an exco meeting every week.”

'We need to keep working'

Khalid admitted that Pakatan had been aware the amendments it proposed would be passed as it did not have the required two-thirds majority. Nevertheless, he said the coalition has taken a pragmatic stance, that it would follow to success on its failure to push forward with the amendments.

“We will have to continue operating as an effective executive body, that is the menteri besar and the exco, and we will have to continue to rely on the services of civil servants who have taken their oaths of responsibility to the government.

“... we will also consider assessing our own competency and (our) own relations with them. We will have to make sure the state has the full civil service to back (us).”

Khalid also reiterated that the power of appointing the top three ex-officio officers in the state should lie with both the Sultan of Selangor and the state government.

“Even if we may not successfully push the amendment, it will not break the spirit of Pakatan Rakyat.

“Instead, this issue has strengthened Pakatan’s resolve to prove our authority (kewibawaan) and achieve the two-thirds majority in the next election so that amendments like this can be moved.”

VIDEO | 12.20 mins